October 19, 2020
Revelation 1:17-18
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.  I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."
New International Version (NIV)
What would you say if you saw Jesus?  Have you ever thought about it?  Rehearsed maybe?  Friends of mine say it aloud sometimes.  “When I get to heaven I’m going to ask God about . . . “  Usually it has to do with some unexplained pain in their lives.  I think I understand.

The Apostle John knew he would see Jesus again, someday.  From the day he followed him home and spent the afternoon with him, John had always wanted to be around Jesus.  Jesus loved all the disciples, but John believed his love so strong that it became his identity.  He had been a son of thunder, but he became the “disciple Jesus loved”.

John was the last one standing of those original apostles.  A lot had happened.  John had been exiled to an island off the coast of Greece called Patmos.  A Greek friend who owns a service station once saw Revelation on my t-shirt and told me he had been to Patmos.  I’d love to go someday.  Maybe John felt forgotten.  But he needed to write to the churches to encourage them.  After all it was a Sunday, the Lord’s day, the day of the week when Jesus arose, so there was still hope.  The blessing was just pretty effectively disguised that day. 

Imagine John’s surprise when he saw Jesus.  You would think he would have run and embraced him.  But he saw Jesus as never before.  Brighter than the transfiguration, Jesus stood before him with hair white as wool, eyes like blazing fire, feet like bronze.  His voice was louder than a waterfall.  John just fell down at his feet like he was dead.  But Jesus touched him and told him not to be afraid.  Jesus was there at the start and he will be the true last person standing.

We will all be on our knees... or maybe our faces, but Jesus will still stand.  I suppose when we see Jesus, we may forget what we were planning to say.  But what he has to say will matter more.  He will take away our fear.  He will be alive even after we die.  By his Spirit he will bring us to life.  Until we see him, there is work to do.  If we look for him today, we may find that he is right here, as close as a prayer.
Pray with me:         
Father, thank you for Jesus, the first and the last.  Help us to live our lives with you today, attentive to your presence.  Give us the grace to see your beauty and to hear your voice today we pray.  When we know what you want us to do, help us not to waste time, but to do what you say.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.  
Join us in memorizing the Word.  Scripture for this week:    
Matthew 7:9-10
Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan.  Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG 
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week.  In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year.  Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.  
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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