“I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest” (Revelation 6:2).

In this world, one bent on conquest follows another.  There seems to be a never-ending stream of those who want to rule the world.  The amazing thing is that people fall for this over and over again.  The lure for power is great.  All power belongs to the Lord, so the sooner you understand that, the sooner lust for power will leave you.  You have no power except through accepting the call to become a child of God. What do you have that you did not receive?

Lord, You know how often I fall for this snare.  Many around me vie for power.  It is a silly pursuit, for when we die, anything we once had passes from us.  Lead me away from this wicked pursuit to live according to Your never-failing principles.  Help me to follow You wherever You lead so that I may pursue what is right and good.  Guide me, Lord, now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You are the Sovereign One who has come to lead the way.  You are not coming to conquer, for You have already conquered.  Guide me now and always in truth so that I will not waste my time on meaningless pursuits.  Help me learn how to be Your disciple, trusting You in and for all things.  Lead me in the upward calling of the faith You have given me and grow me to be like You.  Amen.

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” (Revelation 6:1)

What unfolds in time the Lord already knows.  He invented time.  He knows the end from the beginning.  But we are given the ability to see and that means slowing everything down so that we can see.  Will you receive the gift of sight?  Will you see that the Lord is Lord of all?  Many stand in the presence of the light and see darkness.  You have been given the gift of sight.  As many as see the light, to them He gives the power to become children of God.

We are called to follow Jesus.  Many are called, but few are they who walk the path of being a disciple.  The first thing Jesus said to you was, “Come.”  In this scene of heaven, the living creatures are saying, “Come.”  Will you come and follow the Lord?  When this scene is played out in your presence then, it will be too late.  The Lord is bidding you come now and follow Him into real life.

Lord, You have called me through the water of my baptism.  You came humbly in order that I may become like You and be a child of God.  You have come.  The question is, will I follow You?  Help me in all my doubts, fears, and unbelief to come and follow You now and forever.  Guide me in the goodness of the gift of new life that You have given me.  Lead me, Lord, and help me to follow You now and evermore.  Amen.

“And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped” (Revelation 5:14).

The Lord has made each creature according to its own kind.  It shall be as the Lord has purposed.  How is it then that we ask Him so many questions?  Why are we so discontented that we do not look to the author of our existence and respond with praise and thanks?  This is the rebellion that will be crushed.  He has called us to reality where we praise Him from whom all blessings flow.  Come then and live into the life for which you were created.

Lord, I do not understand the rebellion within me, nor the reason why I want to be control.  Help me to learn from You how to be content with who You have made me to be.  Help me by Your goodness to know that in You is hope and an eternal future.  Lead me, Lord, and I will follow.  Guide me Lord and I will learn from You.  Let me join the four living creatures in saying, “Amen,” and again, I will say, “Amen.”

Heavenly Father, You are worthy of all the praise and honor within me.  Lead me this day to rejoice in all that You have done, are doing, and will do knowing that You will accomplish all that You have purposed.  Holy Spirit, stir my heart to be in constant worship and praise of the goodness of what has been done.  Lord Jesus, may I give You thanks and praise for the salvation You have accomplished by Your own shed blood.  Amen.

“And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13).

It is about the Lord.  We have been given awareness and the ability to deny reality and think it is about us, but it is always about the Lord.  All of creation centers in the One who made it.  Who knows, but could it be that the whole of what we call matter and energy was created for the express purpose of singing praise to the Lord?  There are the many who are in rebellion.  They seek their own.  Where are you?  Are you amongst those who bless the Lord, or those who curse their fate?

Lord, I have been called by You to come into Your presence and live as one who has been created by You.  Not only that, but You have redeemed me as Your reborn disciple to walk on the journey of becoming like You.  Lord, I know the rebellion, for it is in my heart.  Guide me to walk according to Your ways and know the goodness of Your grace and mercy.  Lead me toward You, the Creator of all things.

Lord, teach me to join Your creation singing Your praises.  You are worthy of all the honor and praise within me.  You are the One who created me.  Lead me in praise and worship.  Lead me away from rebellion and seeking things for myself.  In all things, guide me according to the purpose for which I have been created.  Lead me, Lord, and grant me a willing heart that will follow You to the end and beyond.  Amen.

“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,  saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:11-12)

The congregation sings hymns, psalms and spiritual songs.  Whether it be angels in heaven, or the faithful on earth, we are to praise and thank the Lord for all that He has done.  The Lord is worthy not just because of who He is – He is God in the flesh – but also for what He has done.  His actions speak for themselves.  “Worthy is the Lamb,” the One who took your sins and mine so that we could join in singing praises. Thanks be to God!

Lord, in matters of faith, I often approach these things the way the world approaches things.  What am I going to get out of it?  But You have already given me what I need.  You gave it to me before I could ask.  Lead me to learn how to respond the way heaven responds: with praise and thanksgiving.  Guide me in the upward way of living so that I may joyfully live into this life of faith You have given me.

Lord Jesus, I should be praising You, but often I come to You asking for things.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may come more often praising and less often asking.  You are the worthy Savior of my soul.  Thank You for all that You have done for all who will come through grace into Your glorious and eternal presence.  May I praise You all day long with thanksgiving and Psalms of praise.  Amen. 

“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (Revelation 5:10).

The contrast between this world and the Lord’s kingdom begins with serving.  The Lord serves us first and when we overcome, we serve Him and our neighbors.  But He continues serving.  It is not about power, authority or rank.  It is about loving one another. Learn from the Lord and learn how to serve as you have been served.  Draw near to the Lord – for that is what a priesthood of believers does – and He will draw near to you.  Live in peace with the Lord and with your neighbors and begin to be a part of the kingdom now as you shall be forever.

Lord, I am tempted by this world and its call to have and gain.  Lead me to be the servant of others, serving them as You have served each of us.  Lead me in Your goodness to know that in You alone is hope, for You are the One who has overcome for all of us.  In Your hands is the book of life.  Lead me to live in the liberty which You have given me by grace.  Lead me to learn and obey all that You have commanded.

Lord Jesus, the way seems so simple, but then the day begins.  I start out wanting power and authority but that belongs to You.  I want to know what I do not know, but what I will and will not know is up to You.  Guide me to humbly live in the station in which You have placed me, serving others as You lead me.  Guide me to learn how to be faithful.  Lead me to be a member of the priesthood of believers, drawing near to You.  Thank You for making me a part of Your kingdom.  Amen.

“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

From every tribe, tongue, people and nation come those who walk with the Lord.  Who is my sister?  Who is my brother?  It is another who follows the Lord.  O how this world segregates us in all of the wrong ways.  We are called to come to the Lord in love and love our neighbor.  The Lord is worthy because He has done all that is necessary for life now and life eternal.  Come to Him and become what He will make you.

Lord, all things are in Your hands.  You have died that we may live.  My brothers and sisters may look different, speak another language, and be from another time, but they are family.  You have called me to come before You.  One day I will stand before You, the Judge of all and I pray that by Your grace and through the faith You have given me, my hope will be fulfilled by the call You have given me.

Lord, to the extent that I am able, help me to pour myself into the life of faith You have given me.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You alone is all hope.  You are the One who is worthy to judge all people, and me, according to Your standard.  Help me to learn how to continue overcoming this world and all the nonsense it contains.  Lamb of God who is worthy, save me from my iniquities.  Amen.

“When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Revelation 5:8).

The music of praise and the lament of scent rise before the Lord.  He hears and senses them all.  From old times and from recent times, the saints lift up their prayers to God.  Behold the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world.  The Lamb, the Judge, the Savior of us all is front and center.  Do you come to Him in need and with praise, or are you one who rebels against the ways of the Lord?

You know who I am in my heart of hearts.  You know Lord, and You have called me through the salvation You have prepared to come with You, to You, and through You to the place which You also are preparing.  Lord, You are the One who must lead.  What I know is that I must to take Your hand and follow where You lead.  Guide me always in the upward call as Your saint in-the-making.

Lord Jesus, how can so much come through such humble circumstances?  Yet, You have spoken and all that exists was spoken into being by You.  Let my knees bend before You that I may learn to praise You in all things and come to You for all things.  Guide me this day, Lord, in the way of life which You have prepared before me.  Help me to humbly walk with You, My Lord and my God.  Amen.

“And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne” (Revelation 5:7).

God the Son takes the book out of the Hand of God the Father?  This is a prophetic vision.  I wonder if too many have gone too literal with the word pictures.  How does one describe  the mystery of eternity?  What is important here is the book of life.  The Lamb takes the book of life.  The One who is worthy to judge has the book.  Did He not say that there was nothing hidden that would not be revealed?

Lord, I go into my own mind rather than looking to You, the Author and Finisher of my faith.  Guide me Lord in the upward call You have given me so that I may humbly walk in Your presence.  Lead me now and always in the goodness of that call.  You are worthy to judge.  You are the judge of the living and the dead.  One day I too will stand before You to be judged.

Lord, without Your grace, I know what the outcome would be.  Guide me by Your grace to live into the life for which You have called me.  I may not know what I will be, but I do know from scripture that I will be like You.  Continue to shape me as You know I need to be shaped.  Guide me always in the Father’s will and keep me from being stymied because there is something I do not understand.  You have given me faith.  Let that be enough for me.  Amen.

“And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth” (Revelation 5:6).

Seven is the Hebrew number for complete, or as we often say it, perfect.  We may speculate, but what good will that really do for our walk of faith?  The Perfect One, who was slain for our sins, sees all and will not settle until there is no sin left in us.  He means to save us completely.  His Spirit will go to the ends of the earth, and no one will be left behind who comes through faith.  The Lamb laid down His life for us and rose again that we might have His life going into eternity.

Lord, I want to know secrets, but what good will that do?  Instead, help me to realize the incredible feat You have accomplished by dying for our sins.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk where You would have me walk.  Guide me because You, who see all things, know the way I need to walk.  Lead me in the upward call You have given me to look to You alone.

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.  You, Lord Jesus, have made possible the salvation of those who believe.  Get me out of the way so that You may continue bringing me ever closer toward the object of my faith until I am complete.  You who see, help me to humbly take Your hand and walk with You all the days of my life.  Alpha and Omega, be close to me as I journey in life this day so that I may be assured of Your ever-present support.  Amen.