“And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth” (Revelation 5:6).
TEXT — Revelation 5:1-7
Message
Between 1942 and 1945, a few acts of self-sacrifice were recorded during the holocaust. The story of Irena Sendler in Warsaw, Poland, who dedicated her life to rescuing the innocent, has touched many. During the Holocaust, Ms Sendler, a Polish social worker, risked her life to smuggle Jewish children out of the Warsaw ghetto. She was nicknamed “Mother Teresa” because she organised a network to smuggle these children out of harm and danger and to keep them in safe houses. She would have paid dearly for that act of kindness if caught. However, she demonstrated bravery and self-sacrificing love to protect the innocent children, reflecting Christ’s willing submission as the Lamb who came to take away the sins of the world, offering redemption and protection.
In the passage, Apostle John had a vision of a pre-historic event that served as a message of comfort and hope. The assurance that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the sealed book depicts a powerful and symbolic vision of Jesus Christ as the worthy and victorious One who can reveal and execute God’s divine plan for the future. The high point of his vision and the reason for celebration in heaven was when the Lamb of God offered Himself as the acceptable sacrifice.
The lessons from this encounter call us into a deeper life of submission and sacrifice. Have you accepted and appropriated this worthy sacrifice to enjoy the redemption that He still offers? How often have you embraced the opportunities to step forward and submit yourselves to sacrifice for the salvation of others or the good of your neighbours, co-workers, family members, and acquaintances? Don’t we sometimes shrink from the pain we may need to endure to help others? The cost of our redemption was precious, which teaches us to continually appreciate what Christ did to save us.
Additionally, we must have absolute confidence in His power to keep and preserve us unto His heavenly kingdom as He has prevailed symbolically first, and literally now after the Cross. He has triumphed over all the enemies and given us, His followers, the power to overcome.
Thought for the day
Appreciate and amplify the precious cost of your redemption
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
