All Saints Day
I went to a funeral this week. It was a sad yet hopeful event. The woman who died was a follower of Jesus and was described by many as someone who exhibited the fruit of the Spirit. She died suddenly and her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will miss her but they also are looking forward to a day when they will see her again in heaven. Going to that funeral and then it being All Saints day today, I am thinking about those who have gone before us to be with the Lord as well as looking ahead to that day when we will be before God's throne all together.
I thought I would share with you all one of the readings for All Saints Day:
Revelation 7:9-17
"After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
What stands out to you in that reading? Take a minute and read it again if you'd like.
For me, there are a couple of things:
First, that there will be people "from every nation, from all tribes and people and languages, standing before the throne". This encourages me to keep on praying for the world and to have confidence in God's work.
Second, I am struck by the awe for God expressed in worship and look forward to tomorrow (Sunday) where I get to join with the people of God as we approach God's throne together.
peace and grace,
Tracy
I thought I would share with you all one of the readings for All Saints Day:
Revelation 7:9-17
"After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
What stands out to you in that reading? Take a minute and read it again if you'd like.
For me, there are a couple of things:
First, that there will be people "from every nation, from all tribes and people and languages, standing before the throne". This encourages me to keep on praying for the world and to have confidence in God's work.
Second, I am struck by the awe for God expressed in worship and look forward to tomorrow (Sunday) where I get to join with the people of God as we approach God's throne together.
peace and grace,
Tracy
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