November 17th - Reflection

Revelation 14:1-11 (NRSV)
Fear God and give God glory
Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion! And with him were one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who have been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins; these follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from humankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found; they are blameless.

Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth -- to every nation and tribe and language and people. He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water."

Then another angel, a second, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

Then another angel, a third, followed them, crying with a loud voice, "Those who worship the beast and its image, and receive a mark on their foreheads or on their hands, they will also drink the wine of God's wrath, poured unmixed into the cup of his anger, and they will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image and for anyone who receives the mark of its name."

Reflection
What a song we will sing on this day. An eternal song of our salvation through Jesus. The gospel lives on into eternity. The news is forever good. The Word will reign supreme and all the redeemed will sing a new song.

Even today as children are saved they begin a new song of the redeemed. A new life is given and begins. A new creation begins to grow. We follow Jesus as disciples and are renewed day by day, moment by moment, lesson by lesson, in the love of Jesus. The Spirit is poured down upon us in rivers of waters to enrich our lives. Poured greater than the waters of the Niagara Falls with all the mist, the awesome sounds and the beautiful sights. God richly blesses us.

What a song we will sing on this day! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as you pour out those living waters upon me and create new life within my soul; may you be pleased to hear my song of thanks and praise... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen