The LORD God is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He has established laws in nature which govern all the processes of life–planting, growth, cultivation and harvest. These principles give us insight on how to conduct our lives, families, churches, and societies (to continue reading this essay, click on image above).
The New Jerusalem, Rev. 21.9-22.5
The New Jerusalem fulfills humanity’s deepest longing for direct, unhindered communion with God as he makes his permanent dwelling among his people. The magnificent city imagery with its perfect measurements, precious materials, and light-filled splendor reveals God’s own beauty and worth, teaching us that our ultimate destiny surpasses mere escapism but involves genuine renewal of creation where heaven and earth finally merge. The restoration of Eden’s imagery—particularly the water of life and tree of life—yet now elevated within an urban setting, reveals God’s intention never to abandon creation but to perfect it, removing all curses, healing all brokenness, and bringing his original purposes to their intended fruition. Finally, the beatific vision—seeing God face to face and reflecting his character with his name on our foreheads—emphasizes how our practice of spiritual disciplines are meaningful preparation for the ultimate communion we will experience when through Christ’s mediation we come to fully participate in God’s eternal reign.
Our Focus Today
God’s Immediate Presence Replacing the Temple, Revelation 21.22-23.
Unlike previous religious systems of approaching God, the city has no temple because “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple,” and their glory provides all the light needed, eliminating any need for created sources of illumination.
Invocation
Lord God Almighty and Lamb of God, whose presence in the New Jerusalem will make the need for temples unnecessary, we approach you with reverence and wonder at the thought of your unmediated presence. Illuminate my heart and mind with your glory as I seek to worship you not just in places dubbed as sacred spaces but in every moment and circumstance of my life, wherever I am and whatever path I take. Draw me ever closer into your presence beyond my own religious efforts and thoughts. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Chronological Scripture Readings for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the entire Bible in one year in chronological order.
Wednesday: Isa. 28; 1.1-20; 2 Kings 17.5-41; 18.9-12
Psalms and Proverb for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the Psalms and Proverbs each month.
Wednesday: Psalm 28, 58, 88, 118, 148 and Proverbs 28
God’s Immediate Presence Replacing the Temple, Revelation 21.22-23.
Unlike previous religious systems of approaching God, the city has no temple because “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple,” and their glory provides all the light needed, eliminating any need for created sources of illumination.
Reflection
The absence of a temple in the New Jerusalem reveals the end of God’s kingdom restoration work where he will eliminate all barriers between himself and his people, those barriers that previously necessitated mediating structures, processes, and approaches to him. In this eternal state, the direct presence of God and the Lamb fulfills what all temples throughout history merely foreshadowed: perfect communion between Creator and creation, unhindered by sin or separation. The divine light that eliminates need for created luminaries shows how in eternity, all aspects of life will be directly sustained by God’s immediate presence rather than through secondary means. We can now approach God with confidence through Christ our mediator, living as temples of the Holy Spirit who illuminates our understanding. Now, through Christ’s work on Calvary, we can cultivate a deep awareness of God’s presence in every aspect of life rather than compartmentalizing the sacred and secular, and allow the light of Christ to shine through us into a world still walking in darkness.
Engaging God’s Word Today
In what specific areas of your life do you still rely on “intermediate” sources of spiritual light or connection to God, to maintain a relationship with him other than the blood of Christ? How might you practice by faith a more direct, moment-by-moment communion with his presence as a foretaste of the New Jerusalem?
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, The Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God,
Begotten of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,
Begotten not created, of the same essence as the Father,
through Whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became human.
Who for us too, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried.
The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Who together with the Father and Son is worshiped and glorified.
Who spoke by the prophets.
We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin,
and we look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the age to come. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Benediction
Risen Lord Jesus Christ, the God who will one day be my temple and my light, begin to dismantle every barrier that separates me from a full awareness of your will and presence. As the Lamb of God who will serve as the lamp of the eternal city illuminate my path today, reveal your glory to me in unexpected places and ordinary moments. And may your Spirit prepare me for that day when all religious efforts to mediate our relationships will cease and I will see you face to face, enjoying and delighting in your direct presence in the city you built for your own. Amen.
Scripture Memory for this season
Galatians 6.9-10 (ESV): Do Not Grow Weary in Doing Good
9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Scripture Engagement
As disciples of Jesus, the Churches of Christ the King strongly seek to engage the Scriptures to discover the centrality of Christ and his Kingdom in the prophetic and apostolic writings. You will find a rich treasure of resources on engaging Scripture at the Center for Scripture Engagement of Taylor University.
Book Reading and Reflection
THE REAL REASON HABITS MATTER
“Identity change is the North Star of habit change. The remainder of this book will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to build better habits in yourself, your family, your team, your company, and anywhere else you wish. But the true question is: “Are you becoming the type of person you want to become?” The first step is not what or how, but who. You need to know who you want to be. Otherwise, your quest for change is like a boat without a rudder. And that’s why we are starting here.
You have the power to change your beliefs about yourself. Your identity is not set in stone. You have a choice in every moment. You can choose the identity you want to reinforce today with the habits you choose today. And this brings us to the deeper purpose of this book and the real reason habits matter.
Building better habits isn’t about littering your day with life hacks. It’s not about flossing one tooth each night or taking a cold shower each morning or wearing the same outfit each day. It’s not about achieving external measures of success like earning more money, losing weight, or reducing stress. Habits can help you achieve all of these things, but fundamentally they are not about having something. They are about becoming someone.
Ultimately, your habits matter because they help you become the type of person you wish to be. They are the channel through which you develop your deepest beliefs about yourself. Quite literally, you become your habits.”
~ Clear, James, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Penguin Random House UK, 2018. Electronic Edition, Location 559-561.
Seedling Focus for the Season: Do Not Grow Weary in Doing Good
Description: The harvest of righteousness comes when we do not give up on doing good, even when it is difficult, Galatians 6.9-10.
On Eagles Wings Prayer Focus: A Long Time Comin‘
Ascension of the Lord: The Promise of the Holy Spirit, Acts 1.1-11.
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