To me and my church

And now, O Lord, what do I wait for?

My hope is in you. Psalm 39:7

 

Read Revelation 3:7—13

I picture my little church tonight, the congregation in whose services I participate, where I sing the songs that praise the Lord, hear the scripture, listen to the word of God for today, meet him in bread and wine, and where I am bolstered in faith by greeting my brothers and sisters. This word from Jesus is for us. Every word from Jesus is to come alive among us. I picture us now, surrounding him. ‘You have little power,’ he says, ‘but you have me. Keep my word. Don’t deny me. I’ve got hold of you forever. I won’t let you slip. You’ll be alive in the temple of God. Crowned. So I don’t want you acting now like scared wimps. Just be steadily secure in me. Bear a steady, faithful witness.’

 

Lord Jesus Christ, in great grace you have placed your name upon me and upon my church. You have graced us such that we can be called ‘Christian.’ We are those who are, all at your hand and by your doing, ‘in Christ.’ What you have done to restore lost and sinful humanity all counts as mine, and all counts as ours, all those in my church. We have all died. Our sinful life is assigned to the past. Our life is lived towards God’s future. May we as a church live in the things of God with confidence, speak of you to others, and have our security entirely in you.