He Reigns
Bible reading
4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
– Revelation 1:4-5a (NIVUK)
Devotional
Have you ever felt insecure, unsure and fragile in your faith? Have you ever had doubts that have kept you awake at night: “Is this all true? What if there is no heaven and no rescue? What if this is all there is?” The early Church must have felt the same. They looked around them and all they saw was suffering and death. Many of them had left a secure faith of Judaism and were now hated and abandoned by everyone. Was all this true?
And as the Apostle John sits on the Island of Patmos, a prisoner because of the Gospel of Jesus, he writes to the Church and reminds them again, of what they know! This Jesus was no mere man, He is God! The God of Abraham, of Isaac and Jacob. This is the God who told Moses His Name! He is theirs from the past, theirs now and He will always be theirs!
Jesus is His Son! He has been there from the beginning, He lived amongst them, He talked to them, ministered to them, and touched them. He died for them, a public death and then a public resurrection! These were not stories, Jesus was alive! Hundreds of people saw him, spoke with him, and listened to him. They saw him return to heaven where he now sits and reigns. No, Jesus was no mere man. He is indeed the King of kings, no ruler on heaven or on earth matches his power. Not the Jewish rulers who persecuted them. Not Caesar who had them killed. Not Satan who attacked them unseen but very much felt.
Grace and peace to you. When you have doubts, when you are afraid, when you can’t sleep at night. Grace and peace to you, from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come – the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. It is true, and you are safe.
– Connie Main Duarte
This devotional is part of a series that helps us navigate the texts of the book of Revelation with fresh eyes. A new devotional every Saturday.
These devotionals are available in Portuguese and in English.