He Reigns
Bible reading
1 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No-one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
– Revelation 14:1-5 (NIVUK)
Devotional
I am often told by those who know my family well that I am just like my dad. I don’t look like my dad but am a lot like him in personality and character. We’re all like someone. We become like someone by watching them, spending time with them, and by imitating them. We become their disciple and they, our teacher.
So, the question we need to ask ourselves is not “will I be a disciple?” We’re all disciples! We all follow someone or some ideology. The real question is “whose disciple will I be?”
John is in the throne room with the great multitude from chapter 5. These are the disciples of Jesus, all those who refused to follow anyone or anything besides the Lamb. They have dedicated their lives to the Lamb and now, they look just like Him! There are a few things we learn about this multitude that inspire us as we follow and imitate Jesus.
The Lamb’s people are not their own anymore (v.1).
They acknowledge that they were bought with a price and that they belong to the Lamb. They have God’s name and the Lamb’s name written on their forehead. They have his character.
The Lamb´s people are an offering, a sacrifice to God (v.3).
We are His first fruit, is a way of saying “All of this is yours.” “You made it happen. You own it all. My family, my job, my school, my ministry, my desires, everything.”
The Lamb’s people are pure and undefiled.
They are engaged to the Lamb.
They keep themselves pure (v.4).
They are people of integrity (v.5).
Blameless here doesn’t mean perfect! None of us are perfect. Blameless means: “to walk with integrity”.
They are followers (v 4).
They don’t question Jesus’ plan and they don’t insist on their own way. The call of Jesus has always been: “come and follow me”. By following we remember that we will become like what we follow. The Lamb’s people look so much like Him. They have His seal, and they have His name!
So, one last time, ask yourself today: “Whose disciple am I? Whose name is written on my forehead. Am I just like my Father?”
– 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.