Devotionals by Jill Briscoe

He held seven stars in his right hand. - Revelation 1:16

Jesus said the seven stars were angels or messengers to the churches in Asia. God is not a divine detective story writer, who sits in heaven, trying to think of ways to muddle us up! He wants to make things plain. He told John that he holds the messengers in his hand; he has a grip on them. Commentators differ as to whether these messengers were heavenly or earthly, but whichever, they were in his hand! They may represent anyone who brings God’s messages to a church. God sent these messengers to do his bidding. Their job was simply to deliver Jesus’ message to the seven churches (represented by the seven lampstands).

It is a comforting thought to me that Christ holds the messengers in his nail-pierced hand. The church is his bride, and he cares about her. Those of us who also have the privilege of being cared for so deeply by Christ need to make sure Jesus’ letters do not get lost in the delivery. People’s reaction to the message is not our responsibility, but the delivery of that message as Jesus gave it is our responsibility! Jesus has his hands full with his messengers, but when John fainted at the sight of the glorified Christ, “He laid his right hand on [him] and said, ‘Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last’ ” (Revelation 1:17). A vision of him in all his glory will help us to deliver our message.

For Further Study: Revelation 1:12-20

Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.

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