Revelation 2:7 (NIV) - “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelation 19:9 (NIV) - “Then the angel said to me, ’Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God.’”
In spite of who I am, in spite of what we’ve done, in spite of how we mis-think and mis-live, we are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!
Today’s devotional art is Rembrandt’s The Prodigal Son
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Rembrandt-The_return_of_the_prodigal_son.jpg
With this painting, do pay attention to the details. The emotive moment of the well-known parable. Look at how the prodigal rests his head on his father, in utter dependence and in recognition of his need for the restored relationship. Look at the kind face of the father, whose hands are both feminine and masculine-of mothering and fathering.
With penitence and despair, with ragged clothes and worn out shoes, we also return to the Father in heaven-because we are invited to love, truth and life again.
Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for love. Thank you for the wedding banquet of the Lamb that you’ve prepared for us in Jesus. Today, fill me with your Spirit so I can live in that reality. May our church be filled with your Spirit, so we can live in that reality. In Jesus name. Amen.
HJK