Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 1:4-6.
“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:4-6.
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In briefest summary, prophets receive a message from God to give to the people. And, priests offer praise and prayers and other services to God from the people. Today, Scripture leads us to meditate on the wonderful statement: “He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father”. Today’s Scripture should encourage us of the wonderful privilege and honor to “be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father”.
This priestly function makes me think about my first headnote “About God” in the upper left corner. It seeks to be a praise to God under the title “Total Perfect Triumph”. Even if few people see it and read it, it still is a praise to God. God has given me peace.
Many of you too may feel that few know about your praise, prayers, and service to our God. But, God knows your praise, prayers, and service to Him and has given you peace too.
“LORD, You will establish peace for us,
Since You have also performed for us all our works.” Isaiah 26:12.
“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” 1 Peter 2:9.
“When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Revelation 5:8.
“May my prayer be counted as incense before You;
The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.” Psalm 141:2.
“Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.” Revelation 8:3-4.
“9 And they *sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10.
Other doctrine thinks it proclaims God’s sovereignty and praises God, but it tries futilely to withhold God’s sovereignty over salvation, and instead praises man for his alleged free-will action in securing salvation for himself.
But, Reformed Doctrine proclaims God’s sovereignty over everything and praises God for everything, including and especially God’s work of salvation.
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10.
“11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,
“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.” Revelation 5:11-14.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 