Worthy of Worship
Posted by anthologycreativeWorthy of Worship
Read This Passage: Revelation 4:1-11
Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You have created all things, and because of Your will they exist and were created. —Revelation 4:11
A LOT OF MY FRIENDS when I was younger collected baseball cards. They even looked in magazines to find the current value of their cards. They tried to get cards of rookie players who seemed to be doing well. They knew if the player continued to rise in his stats, the card would increase in value.
Perhaps you have something that you have collected or have put away because it is special to you. What gives value or worth to an object or a person? More specifically, what does it mean to say that God is worthy to receive glory and honor and power?
A good synonym for “worthy” is “deserving.” Stop and ask yourself, Why does God deserve my worship? You may have a long list of things that God has done both for you and in your life that cause you to want to praise Him. Our praise for God should not just be about what He has done, but who He is!
Many people in our world today receive awards and recognition for what they do, but could they receive an award for who they are? A lot of people who are recognized for having talent have no character. God is worthy of praise because His character is flawless.
In a world where our very best friends or family sometimes disappoint us, we can turn to a God who has never failed and never will! At the end of time, He will still be worthy of worship and honor because of who He is. Rather than focusing on what God has done that is worthy of praise, today focus on who God is.
Real Choices
Perhaps you have received awards or recognition for personal talents, grades, or accomplishments. Do you accept and receive all the glory, or can you find ways to give glory to God for the abilities and opportunities He has given you? Look for ways to turn personal awards and recognition back to giving God glory.
Digging Deeper
God has called believers to “walk worthy of the Lord.” Read Colossians 1:10-12 and list the ways that believers can do this.
Pray
Ask God to reveal to you all that He is. Praise God for His characteristics as they come to your mind.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Revelation, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotion | Leave a reply
Worthy of Worship
Posted by anthologycreativeWorthy of Worship
Read This Passage: Revelation 4:1-11
Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You have created all things, and because of Your will they exist and were created. —Revelation 4:11
A LOT OF MY FRIENDS when I was younger collected baseball cards. They even looked in magazines to find the current value of their cards. They tried to get cards of rookie players who seemed to be doing well. They knew if the player continued to rise in his stats, the card would increase in value.
Perhaps you have something that you have collected or have put away because it is special to you. What gives value or worth to an object or a person? More specifically, what does it mean to say that God is worthy to receive glory and honor and power?
A good synonym for “worthy” is “deserving.” Stop and ask yourself, Why does God deserve my worship? You may have a long list of things that God has done both for you and in your life that cause you to want to praise Him. Our praise for God should not just be about what He has done, but who He is!
Many people in our world today receive awards and recognition for what they do, but could they receive an award for who they are? A lot of people who are recognized for having talent have no character. God is worthy of praise because His character is flawless.
In a world where our very best friends or family sometimes disappoint us, we can turn to a God who has never failed and never will! At the end of time, He will still be worthy of worship and honor because of who He is. Rather than focusing on what God has done that is worthy of praise, today focus on who God is.
Real Choices
Perhaps you have received awards or recognition for personal talents, grades, or accomplishments. Do you accept and receive all the glory, or can you find ways to give glory to God for the abilities and opportunities He has given you? Look for ways to turn personal awards and recognition back to giving God glory.
Digging Deeper
God has called believers to “walk worthy of the Lord.” Read Colossians 1:10-12 and list the ways that believers can do this.
Pray
Ask God to reveal to you all that He is. Praise God for His characteristics as they come to your mind.
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Revelation, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotion | Leave a reply
Whole New World
Posted by anthologycreativeRead This Passage: Revelation 21:22-27
I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary.
—Revelation 21:22
MOST PEOPLE HAVE ideas about all the things that will be in heaven, but have you ever considered what will NOT be in heaven?
Two obvious things that will not be in heaven are sin and sickness. There will be no infirmary and no nurses station needed. Evil and illness will not exist in such a perfect place. Another thing will be missing in heaven, though it may surprise you. According to these verses, there will not be any church buildings in heaven. When we go to heaven, we will be living with God. Since we will be living with God, we won’t need to go to any specific building or location to gather together as the body of Christ and take part in corporate worship. His presence will fill all of heaven, 24/7. The sinful nature that separates all humanity from God during our earthly lives will be gone. Our relationships with God will be restored and purified into the perfect relationships He intended them to be. We will be with Him, in constant communion, for all eternity. We won’t need a sanctuary in this whole new world, because He’ll be the sanctuary. But as a Christian, God’s presence and power are available to you now. Do you live like it?
Pray
Thank God that you don’t have to wait until heaven to live in His presence 24/7.
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, Revelation, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotion | Leave a reply
Whole New World
Posted by anthologycreativeRead This Passage: Revelation 21:22-27
I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary.
—Revelation 21:22
MOST PEOPLE HAVE ideas about all the things that will be in heaven, but have you ever considered what will NOT be in heaven?
Two obvious things that will not be in heaven are sin and sickness. There will be no infirmary and no nurses station needed. Evil and illness will not exist in such a perfect place. Another thing will be missing in heaven, though it may surprise you. According to these verses, there will not be any church buildings in heaven. When we go to heaven, we will be living with God. Since we will be living with God, we won’t need to go to any specific building or location to gather together as the body of Christ and take part in corporate worship. His presence will fill all of heaven, 24/7. The sinful nature that separates all humanity from God during our earthly lives will be gone. Our relationships with God will be restored and purified into the perfect relationships He intended them to be. We will be with Him, in constant communion, for all eternity. We won’t need a sanctuary in this whole new world, because He’ll be the sanctuary. But as a Christian, God’s presence and power are available to you now. Do you live like it?
Pray
Thank God that you don’t have to wait until heaven to live in His presence 24/7.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Revelation, Weekly Devotion | Leave a reply
Dwelling Place
Posted by anthologycreativeRead This Passage: Revelation 21:1-5
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. —Revelation 21:3
HAVE YOU EVER met a celebrity? Perhaps you’ve attended a concert or had a professional athlete visit your school. It’s exciting to be near someone famous. So think about this: if your favorite celebrity turned to you and said, “I want you to come live with me,” how would you feel? Or what if we told you that your favorite musician or actor would be at camp with you next summer for 2 weeks?
Most of us would be overwhelmed by such an announcement. But in today’s key verse God states that very thing. Today’s Scripture passage speaks a lot of comfort into the lives of believers because it tells of a time when we will be in the very presence of God. The very God who created the entire universe by just speaking will return to live with all those who believe. We will no longer have to rely on just reading His Word or hearing about God because we will live in His very presence. His dwelling place will be with us.
As Christians, we should live each day looking forward to a time when our relationships with Him will be made truly complete. Pain, grief, and sorrow will pass away, and we will be with Him forever.
Pray
God, thank You for inviting me to live with You. Help me to live like You are returning today.
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Revelation, Weekly Devotion | Leave a reply
Dwelling Place
Posted by anthologycreativeRead This Passage: Revelation 21:1-5
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. —Revelation 21:3
HAVE YOU EVER met a celebrity? Perhaps you’ve attended a concert or had a professional athlete visit your school. It’s exciting to be near someone famous. So think about this: if your favorite celebrity turned to you and said, “I want you to come live with me,” how would you feel? Or what if we told you that your favorite musician or actor would be at camp with you next summer for 2 weeks?
Most of us would be overwhelmed by such an announcement. But in today’s key verse God states that very thing. Today’s Scripture passage speaks a lot of comfort into the lives of believers because it tells of a time when we will be in the very presence of God. The very God who created the entire universe by just speaking will return to live with all those who believe. We will no longer have to rely on just reading His Word or hearing about God because we will live in His very presence. His dwelling place will be with us.
As Christians, we should live each day looking forward to a time when our relationships with Him will be made truly complete. Pain, grief, and sorrow will pass away, and we will be with Him forever.
Pray
God, thank You for inviting me to live with You. Help me to live like You are returning today.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Revelation, Weekly Devotion | Leave a reply
The Return
Posted by anthologycreativeRead This Passage: Revelation 19:11-16
Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. —Revelation 19:11
Right before the start of a football game, the team runs through a banner ripping the paper in two. The crowd cheers as the team runs onto the field.
When Christ returns, He will rip through the sky for all to see. People may have overlooked and missed His seemingly insignificant birth, but they won’t miss His second coming. When Christ returns there won’t be any -questions about who He is. This time, He won’t come as a baby in a manger, but as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Scripture describes Christ as a warrior on a white horse. He will engage in battle against the forces of evil, and the armies of heaven will accompany Him. Christ will return in spectacular fashion, the symbol of faithfulness, truth, justice, and righteousness. He will judge the world, and He will fight the final battle. And He’ll win.
Someday, we don’t know exactly when, Jesus Christ is coming back. And no one will be able to ignore His return. Are you prepared?
Pray
God, I’m looking forward to Jesus’ return. Help me to always live in readiness.
Posted in Devotions | Tagged Revelation, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply
Redeemer
Posted by admin
Read This Passage: Revelation 5:8-10
“And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.’” —Revelation 5:9
Can you imagine being a fly on the wall in this worship service? John takes us into the throne room of heaven. Christ, through His humiliating death and victorious resurrection, has gone into heaven after redeeming His people from the bondage of sin. He is welcomed by a new song because of His worthiness to be our king, because of what He did on the cross. What words can more fully declare the greatness of Christ than the lyrics of this song? He literally purchased people from every people group in the world, a price tag that cost Him His own life.
It is Christ’s work on the cross that gives us victory. It is the work of the cross that gives life. He has fixed our sin problem, taking what was destroyed by sin and restoring us through His sacrifice.
Picture yourself attending this worship service. (If you are a follower of Christ, you will be there.) Christ is your Redeemer. He gives you freedom to live life to its fullest.
Pray
Be excited that Christ loved you all the way to the cross. Praise Him for the freedom His sacrifice brings to you.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Revelation, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply
Redeemer
Posted by anthologycreativeRead This Passage: Revelation 5:8-10
“And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.’” —Revelation 5:9
Can you imagine being a fly on the wall in this worship service? John takes us into the throne room of heaven. Christ, through His humiliating death and victorious resurrection, has gone into heaven after redeeming His people from the bondage of sin. He is welcomed by a new song because of His worthiness to be our king, because of what He did on the cross. What words can more fully declare the greatness of Christ than the lyrics of this song? He literally purchased people from every people group in the world, a price tag that cost Him His own life.
It is Christ’s work on the cross that gives us victory. It is the work of the cross that gives life. He has fixed our sin problem, taking what was destroyed by sin and restoring us through His sacrifice.
Picture yourself attending this worship service. (If you are a follower of Christ, you will be there.) Christ is your Redeemer. He gives you freedom to live life to its fullest.
Pray
Be excited that Christ loved you all the way to the cross. Praise Him for the freedom His sacrifice brings to you.
Posted in Devotions | Tagged Revelation, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply
Worthy
Posted by anthologycreative
Read This Passage: Revelation 5:1-7
Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals.” —Revelation 5:5
Today’s passage opens with John watching events unfold in the throne room of heaven. God is seated on His throne, holding a scroll no one seems worthy to open and read.
John’s weeping is evidence of the importance of that scroll. Notice the difference between what is announced (“The Lion from the tribe of Judah”) and what actually appears (“a slaughtered lamb”). The triumphant Lion is the slaughtered Lamb. The supreme King is the crucified Savior. One, and only one, is found worthy. No created being—not an angel, not Billy Graham, not your counselor from camp this summer – no one but Jesus is worthy.
Christ alone, because of His humility on the cross, can unveil the will of God for the world found in the scroll. Envision Jesus as both the Lion and the Lamb. If we want to see the Lion as our Savior rather than our judge, we must first find Him in the Lamb, the very substitute for our sin on the cross. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:18, we can’t know Christ’s saving power without knowing the humility of His crucifixion.
Pray
Read Philippians 2:5-11 as a prayer. Praise Jesus for being both the Lion and the Lamb.
Posted in Devotions | Tagged Revelation, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply