December 17 (Revelation 3:5)
The one who conquers will be clothed thus
in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his
angels. (ESV)
What do you want this Christmas? And don’t say, “Peace on earth,” or some
other answer that you think sounds appropriate for a Christian. Seriously, what do you want? When I read this verse recently, I was
overcome with how much I want this. I
want to hear Jesus speak my name to God our Father and to stand before Him in a
white garment that shows I am one of His own.
Every day we face the temptation to turn away from Jesus. We are tempted to try life on our own rather
than relying on His provision. We may
even be tempted to reject Him outright, whether through fear of embarrassment around
others or in a fit of pique because we think He has not done for us what we
need or want. The one who conquers is
the one who stays true to the end, the one who clings to Jesus faithfully rain
or shine, through thick or thin.
And what a reward is waiting for that person! Try to picture it. There you are, clothed in white. You are trembling with nervous excitement. Your faith convinces you that this moment is
going to happen, but still, you want and need to hear those words. Jesus looks at you with a smile and turns
toward the Father. “I want to present to
You one who has known me for a long time,” He announces. And then He says your name.
O Jesus, I long for You to announce my name to our
Father! I want more than anything to be
found faithful and true. When I grow
weak, make me strong. When I stumble, please
pick me up. Help me to run my race and
fight my fight with the victory that can only be found in You. Amen.
Copyright © 2017 by Steven R. Perkins
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