Amen. Hallelujah

Rev 19:1  After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,

 

"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our God, 2  for his judgments are true and just; he has judged the great whore who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants."

 

3  Once more they said, "Hallelujah! The smoke goes up from her forever and ever." 4  And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God who is seated on the throne, saying,

 

"Amen. Hallelujah!" 5  And from the throne came a voice saying, "Praise our God, all you his servants, and all who fear him, small and great." 6  Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out,

 

"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready;8  to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure"

 

--for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9  And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of God." 10  Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

This prose contains songs from the early church. Allow this to be moment when you connect with Christ-followers from the first century. Do not get into critical analysis, or explaining this writing. Use this as a moment of worship with that “great cloud of witnesses” who have gone before us.  Allow this to be the way you connect with the church of God – both present and eternal.

 Amen. Hallelujah

 

 

 

Ordinary 18 / Pentecost +11

40 God’s Abundant Provision
The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 249.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.