The Lord God, the Almighty

The Sovereignty of God
The Alpha and Omega

Alpha and Omega

Revelation 1:4-8  Good News Translation

Greetings to the Seven Churches

⁴ From John to the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace be yours from God, who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits in front of his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first to be raised from death and who is also the ruler of the kings of the world.
He loves us, and by his sacrificial death he has freed us from our sins ⁶ and made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father. To Jesus Christ be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
⁷ Look, he is coming on the clouds! Everyone will see him, including those who pierced him. All peoples on earth will mourn over him. So shall it be!
⁸ “I am the first and the last,” says the Lord God Almighty, who is, who was, and who is to come.

For Reflection

Few  of us write letters any more.  Many text or send e-mail.  Our written communication to each other is at best cryptic.  We rush through ideas as though each respondent understands the message as we do.  Perhaps our assumptions about our written communication are inaccurate.  Perhaps, in our brevity much meaning is lost.  We write past each other and fail to consider the impact of our messages.  We might as well be writing to "occupant"

How many of us open our messages to Christian friends as John does, with a blessing of grace and peace, recognition of Christian hospitality?  In modern conversational mode, one need not begin so formally.  But, is it possible that  including such reference to the power and sovereignty of God might strengthen our bonds and reinforce the Good News of the gospel?

Shalom


Pray

for the power of the Spirit to fill your soul with good news.  Pray that you will work to strengthen the bonds among all people.  Pray that worship extends to the actions you take to the glory of God.