A New Devotion - The Bright Morning Star

Here's a new devotion that I wrote. You can find a recording of this devotion at the bottom of the page.

Revelation 22:12-17, 21

“See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

“It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let everyone who hears say, “Come.” And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

The Bright Morning Star

I find a lot of comfort in this image for Jesus, and that’s especially true as I close out 2020. I think I’m safe in saying, this year has been challenging for all of us. For example, over 320,000 Americans died as a result of COVID-related illnesses. Businesses have closed, jobs have been lost and new opportunities have withered. I’ll tell you, over the last ten months, our whole world changed. A year ago, a friend of mine said, “In this economy, if you’re unemployed, you’re just not trying.” I’m not sure anyone would say that now. And so, as we pass through our subdued celebration of the Christmas, a lot of us are sort of limping to the end of a bad year.

And for this reason, I believe this image is so meaningful. You see, no matter what we’ve encountered in the past or how tired and discouraged and frustrated we might be right now, Jesus Christ is still “the Bright Morning Star.” And to me, that represents two things. First, because he’s in control of his creation, we have good reason to hope, because what may appear to be the dead of night may actually be the time right before the dawn. In him, possibilities are always possible. That’s one. And second, regardless of what we’re facing right now, the entire creation is moving toward a bright new morning. You see, the time is coming when the old will be made new and the dead will be raised. And nothing in creation will change that reality. And so, as stagger to the close of a dark year, let’s intentionally focus on the Bright Morning Star.