Tag Archive for The Church

The People of the Living God

A reflection on Revelation 7:9-17,
the vision of the heavenly multitude

We are the people of the Living God.

Embattled,
rejected, and
sharing the suffering of our crucified Lord,
we are the people of the Living God.

Human but holy,
flawed but forgiven,
immature but growing daily in Christ,
we are the people of the Living God.

Chosen,
adopted,
redeemed,
sanctified, and
sealed as His very own,
we are the people of the Living God.

We are His Body,
His temple,
His treasured possession,
His precious children.

And soon, we will be His
holy,
glorious,
stunningly beautiful Bride,
aglow with the perfection of our Beloved.

We are the people of the Living God.

Listen and sing:
Hymn: Chosen in Jesus
Recording
Printed Music & Lyrics

Invest in Others

You were called to freedom, brethren;
only do not turn your freedom into
an opportunity for the flesh,
but through love serve one another.
(Galatians 5:13, NASB)

Imagine yourself 30 or 40 years in the future,
looking back on your life.
Your work here is largely past,
and if the Lord tarries,
the world will move on.
You will soon fade from the scene.

When that day comes,
you’ll see that your part in the whole is what’s important,
not your few solo lines.
Much of what you have accomplished will be
temporary or partial.
The success of the work for which you’ve given your life
will depend on the success of others.

Think of yourself as only one part of the whole.
Pray for others and their efforts.
Encourage them.
Help them enthusiastically,
as if the success of your work depends on theirs.
For in reality, it does.
Invest yourself in the lives of others.

Dream Greater Dreams

All the believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they shared everything they had.
(Acts 4:32, NIV)

Lord, I waste so much time and energy on
my personal needs and concerns.
I lavish so much of my thought on
making myself look good and on
fulfilling my personal dreams.

Lord, raise my eyes,
raise my heart
from the “me” to the “we.”
Wean me from foolish selfishness with all its burdens.
Teach me to dream dreams for Your Body.
Catch me up in the well-being of Your people.

Spirit of Christ,
take over my mind.
Take over my heart.
Fill my hands, my words, my life
with the beautiful love of Christ.