Why do you read?
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. Revelation 15:1
As we begin chapter 15 of Revelation, I want to take a pause here and ask ourselves: Why am I reading this book? Why do I read any of God’s Word? What am I looking for? These are questions I thought about this past weekend. Why am I reading God’s Word everyday and what am I looking for when I read the scriptures.
I have to be honest and say that some of the reasons are because it is a habit and because I know it is the right thing to do and it is good for me. I open up the bible every day to make sure I am taking in His good content. Also, If I am being totally honest, I look into God’s words for His promises and that translates into “What’s in it for me?” Kind of a selfish attitude, but still, it is important to know where the real answers to everyday life can be found.
However, and this may seem like a no brainer to some people, but now I am taking on a new purpose for reading the holy Word of God. This is so that I can know more about Him and understand Him on a more personal level. I believe this is the main reason why God has preserved His story and book down through the ages. It isn’t so that we can know what is coming up next although much of that is in there. It isn’t even so that we can know how to live life successfully, because that is also in there. The real reason God has given us His very own words in a book that we can hold onto in this physical world is so that we can know how much He loves us and wants to walk with us each day we are here in this world.
In today’s key verse, we read that God’s wrath is complete! He will never pour out wrath on His enemy again for all eternity. I also am made aware from this chapter, that I am not reading it to see what the anti-christ will be doing on the earth, I am reading this book from heaven’s viewpoint. I said it before, but this is not a vision to learn about the beast and the false prophet, this is the revealing of our Lord Jesus and events that took place in heaven to be lived out in a future time in the world. This is God’s story, and it is the conclusion to the age of grace that we live in today. It is the last opportunity for those who still live in the world to step into that personal relationship with their heavenly Father and He is pulling out all the stops to urgently get that message out to the remaining few to be rescued during that time.
So now, my perspective has changed and each day when I open God’s word, I am looking for His love and what He wants to teach me about our relationship. I will be looking for the message He wants to speak to me personally and also what He plans for me to share with others. I have included a prayer below that I now put into my Daily Dose Journals, that you can pray before you read God’s word each day to help you remember why you are reading and also to ask for the Holy Spirit to reveal more of Who He is and His great love for you in a new and special way.
Today I want to encourage you to answer the question: Why do you read God’s Word? Start turning your focus when you open it to His love and goodness instead of reading out of obligation or habit. Pray the prayer below and let your time in His word be a personal time to enrich your relationship with Him and get to know Him better. Begin to increase your understanding of the love He has for you and all people and then just sit in His presence and listen to words of wisdom He wants to share with you for the day.
Pray: Father, thank You for Your Word and that I can get to know you better through it. I thank you for the wisdom and promises in it! Open up my understanding now as I read, to receive the message that You have for my life personally today and show me how to apply these truths in my everyday life. I thank You for showing me more of your great love and all You are imparting into my heart through this reading and for giving me opportunities to share your love, wisdom and promises with others each day. In Jesus name, Amen!
Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 15:1-2
1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
The Daily Dose 