Surrender: A devotional on desperation, humility, and giving over

“ Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! ” — Revelation 10:5-6 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, If we were to hear these six words pronounced from Heaven today, how would we be compelled to change our course of action, our priorities, our way of living? How would I be motivated to change how I live, what I think about, what I put off until tomorrow? Time pressure has a way of clarifying what matters. It has a way of producing results and revealing true character. We see it on the battlefield and in the boardroom. On the gridiron and in the grad school. There will be a day when time grows short and the gap between “now” and “the end” is thin. If that was today, what would I change? Lord, whether these words will be utt...

"When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.” — Revelation 8:1-2 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, After Your hand cracks open the seventh and final seal from the scroll, there is complete silence in Heaven. All shouts of praise cease. All cries of “Holy! Holy! Holy!” are stilled. All prayers of the saints are quiet. For a full half hour, there was silence. Even silence is worship when presented before You. In a world where everything is constantly moving and something is always making a sound, silence is rare. Even in my life of worship to You, it is mostly composed of words, prayers, praise, and activity. Yet here is a moment—an extended moment—of complete silence. Is it the calm before the storm? Is it a time of complete awe and reverence? Is every being within Heaven unable to utter a word? The silence is worship to the King of Kings. It is...

 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 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. 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. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center 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.’” — Revelation 7:13-17 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, This is the Great Multitude of Tribulation Saints—believers in Christ who were saved after the church is raptured to Heaven. They are from every nation, tribe, people and language, a multitude so great that n...

 “Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” — Revelation 14:6-7 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, It’s a fitting passage for Christmas, isn't it? An angel flying around the globe proclaiming the eternal gospel to everyone on earth below. His words, “Fear God and give Him glory” are reminiscent of the words announced on the night of Your arrival to earth: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests” (Luke 2:14). This time, however, the angel’s words are followed by a pronouncement of judgment rather than peace. “The hour of his judgment has come.” The Creator of the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water, who came to bring...

“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” — Revelation 6:12-17 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, As you open each of the seals on the scroll that determines and describes humanity’s conclusion and earth’s ending, each seal is God’s judgment on mankind. Humanity is receiving the end ...

 “Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” — Revelation 5:1-5 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, John wept and wept because there was no one worthy anywhere in heaven or earth who could open the scroll held in the Father’s hand. And then one of the elders announced the solution and the great news—the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, is able to open the scroll. Think of it. You alone are worthy. No one in all of creat...

“Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” — Revelation 4:8-11 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, Heaven is a place of non-stop, 24/7 worship unto You. Day and night, the seraphim surround God’s throne and declare Him holy. The Greek word used for Almighty is  “pantokrator” which conveys the idea, “he who holds sway over all things.” I have never read that de...

  “ Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” — Revelation 3:10-11 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, Your words to the church in Philadelphia are incredibly encouraging and edifying. They have suffered patiently. They have kept Your word to persevere. Since they have endured patiently and persevered steadfastly, Your reward is to keep them from the “hour of trial” that is going to come on the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth. This hour of trial is a moment of time, certain, definite, and fixed, that is going to arrive. When it does, it will be a time of testing to prove or examine the faith, virtue, and character of those who dwell on the earth. This church is being told they will be protected from that hour. You state very clearly, “I am c...

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.” “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.” “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.” “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” — Revelation 2:1; 2:8; 2:12; 3:1; 3:7; 3:1...

 "The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” — Revelation 1:1-3 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, This final book within my Bible is an  “apokalupsis,”  a revelation from and of You. It is a revealing or an unveiling of You and of the events which “must soon take place.” This is the Word of God and it is Your testimony. There is a blessing that comes to the one who reads and hears the words of this prophecy. There is a blessing if I take these words to heart “because the time is near.” Near is such an interesting word when spoken by Almighty God who is outside of space and time and views ever...