Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Good Morning!

 

 

Today's Reading:  Revelation 1:9

 

-- Two things from today's reading, as we get past the introduction to Revelation into the the first of the two major sections of the book.

 

-- John in this verse sets the context for the book.  He introduces himself and his credentials as a fellow Christian, and he tells the reader where he was -- Patmos -- when he received the vision and why he was there - for preaching the gospel.

 

-- For more info on Patmos, including some pictures and a map, here is a link to the Wikipedia entry:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patmos

 

-- As Barclay notes, John writes during a time of great persecution for Christians -- the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian (for more on him go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domitian).

 

-- Even with this verse, you get a sense that John is writing to encourage others.  He writes that he is a companion not only in their suffering, but their patient endurance.  There is something comforting and encouraging about the idea of patient endurance -- I get confidence that there is an end to our troubles, it is just a matter of time.

 

-- It is interesting how John's surroundings may have influenced his writing - Barclay mentions that the word 'sea' is mentioned 25 times in Revelation.  According to tradition, John wrote Revelation while living in a cave that overlooked the sea and was in earshot of the crashing waves.

 

-- Here's a question for us -- John writes about the patient endurance of Christians of his day in a world where the government was actively hostile to the Christian faith.  There are those today who feel persecuted by the government for their Christian faith, but don't seem to be enduring that perceived persecution with patient endurance.  I don't know if John is advocating an approach of patient endurance to persecution, but it seems like he speaks favorably and admiringly of it.  Is patient endurance our call if we think that a government is hostile to our faith, or is active confrontation our duty?

Today's Scripture

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.  So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

 

Romans 13:12

Today's prayer request:     The family of Brian Calhoun.

 

This is Ron Ray's coworker, whose brother-in-law died suddenly of a heart attack at 32, leaving behind a 3 year old daughter Hannah and a wife Elizabeth who is five month pregnant.  Need to remember this family during this time of intense grief and shock.

 

Today's class member prayer:

 

Christie Peebles

 

Have a great day.

Jay