To Him Who Loves Us and Has Freed Us
Date: July 11, 2024
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
B - Bible Verse in NIV (Revelation 1:5-6) and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your great love for us. We're so grateful that You freed us from our sins through Your sacrifice. Help us to understand the amazing gift of freedom You've given us, and show us how to live as part of Your kingdom. Guide us as we serve You and others. May our lives bring glory to You forever. Amen.
E - Explore the History and meaning The book of Revelation was written by the apostle John when he was exiled on the island of Patmos. In these verses, John is praising Jesus and reminding the early Christians (and us) of who Jesus is and what He's done for us. He emphasizes Jesus' role as our savior, liberator, and king, and how He's given us a special place in God's kingdom.
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
"Faithful witness" - Jesus always tells the truth and shows us what God is like.
"Freed us from our sins" - Jesus has set us free from the power and punishment of sin.
"Made us to be a kingdom and priests" - Jesus has given us a special role in God's plan, to serve Him and others.
S - Summarize and Share Let's take a moment to really think about the amazing gift we've been given in Jesus. These verses in Revelation paint such a beautiful picture of who He is and what He's done for us.
First, we're told that Jesus is the "faithful witness." That means we can always trust what He says. In a world where it's hard to know who to believe sometimes, isn't it wonderful to know that Jesus always tells us the truth?
But here's the really exciting part - John tells us that Jesus "loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood." Now, that's true freedom! You see, before we knew Jesus, we were all stuck in sin. It's like we were in a prison, unable to escape on our own. But Jesus, because He loves us so much, paid the price to set us free. He died on the cross, shedding His blood, so that we could be forgiven and set free from sin.
And it gets even better! Not only has Jesus freed us, but He's also given us a special job to do. The verse says He's made us "to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father." That means each one of us has an important role in God's plan. We get to be part of His kingdom, sharing His love with others and serving Him in our daily lives.
Now, this freedom we have in Christ isn't just about being able to do whatever we want. It's about being free to become the people God created us to be. It's about being free from guilt, shame, and the power of sin in our lives. It's about having the freedom to love God and others without fear.
Let's celebrate the freedom we have in Jesus! Let's thank Him for loving us so much that He set us free. And let's ask Him to help us live each day in that freedom, serving Him and others with joy and gratitude. Remember, no matter what you're facing today, in Christ, you are free indeed!
3 Bible Cross References:
John 8:36 - "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
Galatians 5:13 - "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."
1 Peter 2:9 - "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
Question for the followers: How has knowing Jesus as your "faithful witness" and the one who has freed you from sin changed your life? Can you share a specific way you've experienced the freedom Christ offers? Let's encourage each other with our stories of how Jesus has set us free!