Sunday Devotional
“ Blessed is the man who mediates on the Law of the Lord.”
Good morning! Welcome to the final day of retreat. Hopefully you’ve spent this weekend resting, learning, in good community, and reflecting on God’s word. The Psalms say that the person who “meditates ... on the law of the Lord” is “blessed” (Ps. 1)! Likewise, Jesus says, “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (Jn. 15:4).
The first day of these devotionals we looked at the beginning in Genesis 3, and what makes it difficult for us to remain rooted in Christ. Yesterday we saw what Jesus himself, incarnate, said about abiding in him (and he in us), and how that connects to loving others. Today we will see an image out of God’s promise for the end, of a perfect relationship where we remain forever and perfectly rooted in him, remaining in Christ as our source.
Read Revelation 22:1-5. This is the final “image” presented in the Bible; if we take time to reflect on it and see where it connects with other parts of Scripture, we can see how beautiful it is to be rooted in Christ. This devotional will be a bit different. Take some time to look through the following bullet points to see some other places this passage cross-references with, and answer the prompts to yourself. Go through as few or as many as you’d like, but the more of them you read, the fuller a picture you’ll see. But even these don’t trawl the depths of the wonderful imagery in God’s revelation!
Verse 1: “the water of life:” read John 4:7-26. Look especially at verse 10. In this passage, Jesus affirms for the first time that he is the Messiah (or, “Christ” is the Greek term with the same meaning); the “anointed” one of God who has come to save the world. Jesus is the true provider of the water of life which cleanses us from sin.
What does this passage in John say about Jesus? List out all the attributes that he or the Samaritan woman say about him.
Verse 2: “the tree of life:” read Psalm 1. The one who “meditates day and night on the law of the Lord” is described very similarly to this tree in Revelation 22. Write out the similarities—in each passage, what does it say about the location of this “tree”? About when the fruit is produced? About the tree’s leaves?
How does the person “who meditates... on the law of the Lord” compare with the tree found in heaven? Why do you think those comparisons are drawn?
Verse 3a: first, “accursed:” remember the curses in Genesis s3 that we read on Friday (or go back to that devotional’s page to refresh), and consider how God will take those away forever.
Verse 3b: next, “the throne of God and of the Lamb:” read John 1:29 and Isaiah 53:5.
How are we related to sheep in these passages? How is Jesus related to one? What are the differences in these metaphors?
Verse 4a: “they will see his face:” read Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm 11:6, and Matthew 5:8.
According to these verses, who can “see God?” What would it accomplish for you to “see God” in this way?
Verse 4b: “his name will be on their foreheads:” read Deuteronomy 6:4-9. A frontlet is an ornament or band worn on one’s forehead. The beginning of this excerpt is called the Shema, which is used by Jewish adherents as a declaration of faith in God as the true and only God. Much of this passage has been taken literally by practicing Jews, but it also signifies how God should be important in every aspect of our lives.
Metaphorically, what can you do to put God’s name on your forehead (“as a frontlet between your eyes”)?
Verse 5: read Psalm 139:1-12, Psalm 119:105, and John 8:12. God’s word as made manifest in Jesus does many things: he is our light; he leads us into the light; and he protects us from darkness. When we are with God in eternity, our sin will no longer cloud our perception of him, and we will be perfectly rooted in him and established by his grace.
Pray to God that he would make clear to you one step you can take to get closer to his light. Take a few minutes to reflect on what that might be.
Think of a time this weekend when something was illuminated to you by God. Think of another time this semester so far when the same thing happened. Praise God that he does not leave us in the darkness but leads us into glorious light!