Christ Church Daily Devotion Nov 20 2023

In today's Daily Devotion, we read from Revelation 19:11-16. It describes a dramatic and somewhat scary scene of a rider on a white horse, followed by others on white horses. The leader is called Faithful and True, representing Jesus Christ. He carries a sharp sword and treads the winepress of God's wrath. His name is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This image shows the punishment of evil and the victory of God. We should not fear him, but instead submit our will to him as our King and Lord. Welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for November 20th, 2023. Today we will be reading from Revelation chapter 19, verses 11 through 16. I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of the God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This scene is very dramatic and perhaps a bit scary. A rider in a white robe dipped in blood riding on a white horse. He is followed by riders all in pure white and also riding on white horses. The leader represents a fearsome image with a sword coming from his mouth, reminiscent of some of the language in the battle hymn of the Republic. The rider trends the winepress of the wrath of God. Then we see the name of the rider, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is Jesus Christ. When we hear this name sung and handles Messiah, we think of royalty, power and might. In this image in today's passage, we see it in the context of punishment and destruction. Should we fear him? No, not at all. The emperor of Rome and all those who forced people to worship him seemed, to Christians at that time, to be all powerful. But Jesus is about to destroy those who insisted on worshiping the emperor. This is a symbolic way of showing the beginning of the end. God wins and evil is destroyed. We have nothing to fear. As long as we indeed see Christ as our King and the Lord of our lives. Today's personal worship option. If Christ is our King and our Lord, we subject our will to his. Think about what part of your life you may be holding back, insisting on your will. Pray for the faith to submit all you have and are to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.