9th. November. 2021. Daily Devotion.
Revelation 7:13-17
13 Then one of the elders asked me, ‘These in white robes – who are they, and where did they come from?’ 14 I answered, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, ‘they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,” nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; “he will lead them to springs of living water.” “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”’
The Revelation of St. John the Divine is generally known for its bizarre, surreal, and frightening imagery of the Day of Judgment. Yet here we have one of the most beautiful and comforting poetic passages in the Bible.
The passage describes the faithful as those who have come out of the great ordeal, which is life on earth, a time during which we must suffer and be tempted; it is the period which all of us are now in. But our faith will bring us to a place where Christ will wash our robes — cleanse us from all of the damage we have done to our souls through our sinfulness — and bring us to a place where we will not hunger; He will guide us to the springs of the water of life, and “wipe away every tear” from our eye.
Prayer of Praise
Blessed are You, Lord our God and God of our fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob, the great, mighty and awesome God, exalted God, who bestows bountiful kindness, who creates all things, who remembers the piety of the Saints, and who, in love, has brought a Redeemer to us, our forefathers and our children, for the sake of His Name.
O Mighty King, You are a helper, a saviour and a shield. You resurrect the dead; You are powerful to save us in forgiveness of our sins.
You cause the dew to descend. You cause the wind to blow and the rain to fall.
You sustain the living with loving kindness, support the falling, heal the sick, release the slave; You fulfil Your trust to those who sleep in the dust. Who is like You, mighty Father? And who can be compared to You, King of Peace, who defeats death and restores life, and causes deliverance to spring forth! Who is your equal, Great Comforter, who brings holiness to all who call upon You?
You are holy and Your Name is holy; the angels and all the creatures of heaven and earth praise You daily for all eternity. Blessed are You Lord, the holy God. Amen.
To Value Others
God our Father, you call each of us by name, and you treasure each of us individually as though no-one else exists. Inspire me to respect and value each person who comes into my life this day. Teach me to recognize your face in the people you put into my life. Let me recognize the duties and responsibilities that come with the gifts you have given me so freely and inspire me to live in such a way that I always give of my best and be welcoming and generous towards others. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.
Prayer for Friend Whose Spouse Has Died
God, You are the sustainer of those who are bereaved. I pray for Your comfort and protection for my dear friend whose spouse has passed away. Not only is my friend grieving the loss of a life-long companion and lover, but they are also now faced with many confusing decisions and must forge a new life alone. Give comfort for grief, wisdom in decisions, and may my friend find solace in walking with You and joy in the company of family and friends. Amen.
