“[A]nd if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:10).

The Lord has spoken forth His word so that those who have ears to hear may repent and turn to the Lord while there is time.  Do not hinder another by either adding to or taking away from what the Lord has said.  It is so simple that a child can lead us.  There is right and there is wrong.  Confess the wrong, seek the right, and look to the Lord to lift you up and out of the mess of this age.

Why does it seem so difficult, Lord?  I hear all kinds of things but what I need most often, is encouragement.  Yes, I stumble and fall.  No, I do not stick to my resolutions.  I want to think I can do it on my own, but deep down I know I cannot.  Guide me by Your grace so that I see that what You have said in all of Scripture is really the same message over and over.  There is right.  There is wrong.  We need to be saved, and then we need to be helped to do the right and avoid the wrong.

Lead me, Savior, in the way of everlasting life.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I may live out what is good, right and salutary.  Help me to know that by Your power and under Your authority, I can move forward in living the godly life.  Help me to take seriously, this and all of Your admonitions so that I may live wholly in Your grace, seeking to do what is right always, knowing that I am in Your loving arms. Amen.

“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18)

Over time, how many are there who have messed with God’s word?  Some really do make a mess of things.  The purpose of these devotions is to bring your heart to be devoted to the Lord.  At no point were you told what to believe, but you were encouraged to believe.  The Lord calls all who are in this age of sin to repent, that is, turn, and follow Him.  He will save those who turn to Him and trust in His salvation.

Lord, I do not need special knowledge.  I do not need to have insights or hidden knowledge.  What I need is to be rescued from the stinking thinking that goes on in my mind.  It is at its worst when I think it is not present at all.  I need Your salvation, and You are the Savior.  Guide me Lord in the way You would have me go.  Lead me into the way of life so that I may neither take away, nor add to what You have commanded.

Lord, You are the way, truth, and life.  Trinity, You are One God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  You have shared Your word and I have heard the call.  Guide me. Lord. in the way You would have me go so that I may walk in Your salvation.  By Your grace, lead me away from all error so that the plagues of this book will not be added to my judgement.  Guide me according to Your eternal will always.  Amen.

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take the water of life without cost” (Revelation 22:17).

The only action any of us can really do is to step out in faith and go in response to the Lord’s call.  He offers to allow us to drink the living water.  He invites us but we must take the invitation and act upon it.  Unopened, it does no good.  Open it and see what the Lord has offered us which will complete the desire He created in our heart to be fulfilled.  We were made to be filled with the Lord in an eternal relationship.

The Holy Spirit speaks to us each day.  The Holy Spirit, the bride of Christ and the people of faith proclaim to us the Good News.  Saint Paul told us that the word needs to be preached.  You have heard and now you believe.  Continue all the days of your life, no matter what happens, seeking to follow the Lord.  Live in the blessed assurance that faith gives, trusting that the word of the Lord endures forever.

Lord, You do speak to me, and You have given promises.  Where I am unable to see, and must live by faith, give me the encouragement I need.  Whether through Your word, the faithful witnesses around me, or by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, guide me to know that in You I do have hope through the many promises You have given me.  Strengthen that hope today so that I may walk humbly with You.  Amen.

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you of these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16).

Our faith is built from the testimony of others.  We live life based upon the testimony of others.  One cannot prove their love; they can only demonstrate it.  A vow is made, and one believes and fulfills the vow.  These days, that includes a signature on a piece of paper, but all these things are still based upon faith.  We either believe what we have not seen, or we do not.  If we believe, then we are assured that the hope within us will come to pass as the Lord has said.

In this day and age people want proof of all kinds of things.  When it comes to history and relationships, no proof can ever be offered.  There is only the testimony.  That testimony is either true or not true.  We either believe or we do not.  There never has been, nor can there ever be a middle ground between the either/or of belief and unbelief.  Do you believe the testimony of Jesus?  Do you believe those who have shared that testimony with you?

Lord Jesus, help my unbelief.  There are days when things are going well, and I hold on to Your promises.  Then there are days when everything seems amiss and I’m not sure I can believe anything.  Help me at all times to humbly walk with You knowing that only in You is there hope and an eternal future.  You created me.  That I believe.  Sustain me now and always to remain a person of faith and conviction.  Amen.

“Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral persons, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying” (Revelation 22:15).

This list seems to portray the acceptable behaviors of our contemporary society.  Drugs, sex, lying, worshiping the created, and murdering others rules the day.  The heart without the Lord is wicked and deceitful.  Who can understand it but the Lord?  He has come to give a new heart to all who believe and follow Him.  Those who remain in their wickedness will be left outside the gates forever.

How can a heaven filled with people be different than this world?  It will be done by eliminating the wickedness of the heart.  The unrepentant must be left out.  Without repentance, there can be no change.  The change needs to happen and it has with the death and resurrection of our Savior.  Because He lives, we know that we have been granted a new heart and that He will complete His salvation for all who believe.

Lord Jesus, I still have too many of these attributes lurking in my heart, but I want to be like You.  Guide me on the mountain climb I need to walk so that I can reach the top and see You in Your glory.  You are the author of my life and faith.  I need You so that I can take the journey I need to make this day.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to live according to Your Word.  Amen.

“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” (Revelation 22:14).

If you have ever looked at an Icon, you will notice that Jesus is the only one who has a red robe against His body.  The saints may or may not be wearing a red robe, but it will be an outer robe.  This symbolizes the saints being “washed in the blood of the lamb.”  The white pall on the casket at a funeral symbolizes how we are all the same under the washing of Jesus.  You must be forgiven by His blood shed for you to come into the promise of Jesus.

Jesus, what must I do to be saved? You must believe and belief is shown by what you do.  Act as one who has been saved by Jesus.  But what about the corruption of my heart?  Act as one who is being healed by the Lord and do not resist the treatment.  The Lord has determined to save those who reach out to Him in faith.  Continue to reach out and He will do all that needs to be done.  He is and must be the author and finisher of our faith. He is faithful and He will do it.

Come, Lord Jesus.  You have bid me come to You and I come.  Now come to me that the relationship You have established in the covenant, sealed with Your blood, may be the outer garment I wear all the days of my life.  I have no right to the tree of life, but You grant me access by Your grace.  It is not a matter of my rights or deserving, but about what You, my Lord and Master, have done, are doing, and will do in accordance with Your eternal word.  Help me now and always.  Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13).

Who is Jesus?  Here you have His revelation of who He is.  He is the I AM that spoke to Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets and in these last days, to us.  The Father and Son are One.  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are Holy Trinity who are the Alpha and Omega.  God was, IS, and will be.  In invented time and all time is “now” for Him.  Fall on your knees and worship the One through whom all things have their being.

We have met the man Jesus, born lowly, humble, and meek in a stable in the words of the Gospels. We have heard of His actions and what they will produce in the Epistles.  Now, we hear the revelation that Jesus is God in the flesh.  Like Thomas, all we can do is fall on our face and worship our Lord and God.  Too many choose the thinking of Jesus as just a great buddy.  Yes, He is our friend, but He is also God.

Lord God, Alpha and Omega, Trinity who saves, may I do all that You command.  Though I need saving, yet, I have been saved.  Guide me today to be faithful and diligent, knowing that I am before You forever.  You alone do I desire to serve.  Let me never forget this simple truth.  When I serve others, I am really serving You.  Thank You for providing all that is needed so that I may live the life for which I was created.  Amen.

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves” (Revelation 22:12).

Some say that it is not fair that one would receive more than another.  First, we are all saved by grace, apart from works of the law.  Salvation is a gift Christ alone gives.  But think about it this way: do we not reward one who has studied and does a more difficult job with more money?  The worker at a fast-food place does not earn what a doctor earns.  Did man invent this equity, or is this a reflection of God’s righteousness?

Lord, You have given me things to do and You expect the servant to serve the Master.  Let me not behave as one of the filthy wicked ones who do wrong thinking they are safe because they give You lip service.  Help me to do the work You give me to do as a response to the grace You freely gave me.  It is not meritorious, but faithfulness for which I shall be rewarded.  Being faithful then is what is important.

Guide me this day Lord Jesus so that I would learn from You what it means to be faithful.  In Your goodness, help me to know that in You I have true hope.  Also help me to realize that there are things You have created that, in faithfulness, I need to do.  Help me to not be distracted by the world, but to be filled with You so that I do the things You have given me to do this day faithfully.  Amen.

“Let the one who does wrong still do wrong, and the one who is filthy still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness, and the one who is holy still keep himself holy” (Revelation 22:11).

How much of our energy is spent on trying to control the behaviors of others?  Whether it is in the church, or in society, conformity seems to be a powerful god in our midst.  But the One True God has declared that we are to let people be.  They will do what they will do.  Preaching then cannot be convincing but directing.  You have been called by Jesus to live into a life that is righteous.

Lord, only by grace and in the power which is yours is righteousness possible with me.  I still do wrong, and I am filthy, living in a filthy culture.  But You have called me to be righteous.  It is Your Holy Spirit that must carry the burden and lead me step by step, for all power and authority belongs to You, even the power to raise me from the place of being wrong and filthy to the place of being righteousness.

Lord Jesus, I believe in Your name, which means, “God’s Salvation.”  You are the only One who can save me.  Slay the wrong filthy sinner in me today and raise one who is willing to practice Your righteousness.  Guide me in the goodness and mercy of Your grace so that I am on the narrow path and not on the broad way which leads to destruction.  You are my Savior, Lord, and God.  Thank You for bringing me into You.  Amen.

“And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near” (Revelation 22:10).

Daniel was told that the words of his prophecy were for a later time.  John is told that these words are for this time.  We have been living in the time where we know who the Savior is.  The outward appearance may be different, but we are the same as the people John served.  Humanity has not progressed.  Apply these words to your life and begin again the journey of becoming mature in Christ.

Lord, it does not matter what I think.  It does matter who I am.  Help me to begin again and realize that these are not cleverly devised myths, created to deceive me.  You have given me the words of truth and You have called me through my baptism to walk the narrow road of faith.  Lead me Lord so that I may open all of the prophetic words of Scripture and see them applied to my life.

Word of Life, Savior of the world, You have opened up my soul by what You have spoken.  Into my soul You have poured the Holy Spirit.  Guide me in the words of prophecy so that I may humbly walk with You, my Lord and Master.  You know all that is needed for me to be conformed to Your image.  Remove the obstacles and lead me in Your goodness all the days I live in this age until I see You face to face.  Amen.