Revelation 1:4-6 Glory to God

“John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father–to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 1:4-6

John opens the book of Revelation talking to the seven churches of Asia. He begins with a prayer for them to receive grace and peace from God, the seven spirits and Jesus Christ.

You can stand in as a part of those seven churches. Each person today needs to have God’s grace and peace. Grace is God’s favor in your life. You need His favor since all you deserve is death for the sins you have committed.

You also need peace. This peace is between you and God. When you live your life in sin away from God you are at war with God. You are an enemy of God. As a believer there will be peace between you and God.

Notice that this comes from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness, firstborn from the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. Only Jesus faithfully did everything God wanted 100% of the time. He was the first person to raise from the dead on His own. He also rules every king in the world, whether they serve Him or not. Jesus is in absolute control of everything in the world.

Jesus Christ is also the one who loves you. He loved you so much that He shed His blood in death so that you may be freed from your sins and the curse of death.

This was done to make you a kingdom and priest to serve God. You are a part of the kingdom of God. You are separate from this world and it’s ways.

You are also, now, a priest. This means you can go directly before God. You can offer sacrifice of praise and worship directly to God. No longer do you have to go through someone else as happened in the Old Testament times.

All of this is for His glory and power. Everything that Jesus did in the process of saving you is for the glory of God. In this same way, everything that you do should be for the glory and power of God. May God receive all the glory for everything. He has absolute power, but may you also allow Him to have that power over and in your life.

I pray that today you will know the grace and peace of God; that you will be free from all of your sins; that you will serve God as His priest; that you will build His kingdom each day; and that you will give all glory and power to God.