It is right to praise You, to bring the sacrifice You deserve. For those forgiven much, dare not forget Your touch, cannot withhold Your praise Scriptures: Revelation 2:18-29 (NIV) Devotional: “These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” - Revelation 2:18-19 (NIV) In ancient and Jewish thought, to use the title 'Son' was to equate oneself with the very nature and likeness of the person or thing one was referring to. So, when Scripture says, “the Son of God,” this clearly denotes equality with God. This is important to understand. Jesus is speaking to the church of Thyatira through the Apostle John, and He establishes that first and foremost, He is God. In other words: King. The image of Christ's deity is written out even further as the verse continues: “whose eyes are like blazing fire.” This communicates the just judgment of the Son of God—He looks at our lives with righteousness and holiness, both clearly and yet with power. The picture continues, “whose feet are like burnished bronze.” This is meant to communicate Christ's purity and strength. Images of the powerful and awe inspiring Son of God are all throughout Revelation, and ultimately, they should inspire and lead us to worship Jesus. To pray or sing words like:“It is right to praise You, to bring the sacrifice You deserve. For those forgiven much, dare not forget Your touch, cannot withhold Your praise”. In other words, when we have had an experience with the living Son of God, or our minds have somewhat grasped these images in Revelation, the appropriate or fitting response is to praise Him for his goodness and glory. In fact, we often cannot withhold the praise we long to give Jesus after an encounter with Him. Interestingly, as we behold this image of the Son of God in glory, we can have confidence that He sees us as well. The next verse in this passage says, “I know your deeds, your love and faith…” Thyatira was the smallest and most insignificant of the cities that the seven letters of Revelation are written to, but how encouraging that despite their significance by human standards, they are seen, known, and loved by God! He sees us, too—with eyes ablazing and purity of heart. This should astonish us. A God so worthy of glory and honor, One surrounded by heavenly creatures who sing “holy, holy, holy” without end—this God!—sees us. He is that glorious and equally that kind and good. Amen. Original post by Brooke Ligertwood available on YouVersion. A seven-day devotional through the 'seven letters' to the churches in the book of Revelation (chapters 2-3). Each devotional will study a different letter to the churches of Revelation, focusing on themes of communion, devotion, discipleship, repentance, evangelism (and more), as well as featuring lyrics and music from songs throughout the Album SEVEN by Brooke Ligertwood.

In the darkness we were waiting Without hope, without light Till from heaven You came running There was mercy in Your eyes King of Kings Words and Music by Brooke Ligertwood, Scott Ligertwood & Jason Ingram © 2019 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia & Fellow Ships Music/So Essential Tunes (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com) There is no doubt - we all began in darkness. In fact, the earth itself was covered in darkness, until the Creator came and spoke light and breathed life into His creation. Today, God is still breathing life into dead things. Our kind Saviour is still bringing light to dark places, hope to hopeless situations, possibility to impossible circumstances. But before we entered His light, we were in darkness. And before we knew true life, we were destined for death. And before coming awake, we were asleep. The Bible puts it like this: “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.” Colossians 2.13 (NIV) Earlier this year our Senior Pastor, Bobbie Houston, asked the question “Do you remember the day the lights went on?” What about you? Do you remember the day you found salvation, and the weight of sin lifted off you? The day that from heaven, Jesus came running with mercy in His eyes? Ready to awaken you to all of the hope, grace, peace and joy that is life with Jesus Christ. It is our prayer that you would remember that moment. That as you listen to the songs from this new album, the lyrics would remind you that you were once in darkness but have been brought into the light – illuminated now to illuminate others. Based on the song King Of Kings by Brooke Ligertwood, Scott Ligertwood, and Jason Ingrim. Original post by Hillsong Worship available on YouVersion based on the album - Awake by Hillsong Worship.

I have a confession. I don't read my Bible the same way I listen to my favorite audible series. I don't read my Bible the way I would choose my next "vacation" book. I don't anticipate getting lost in the storyline or caught up in my imagination while I do my morning run. The Bible isn't fiction. Jesus doesn't have a podcast.The Holy Spirit isn't hosting a Livestream. The Father won't post His latest big idea on Instagram. Not For Our Entertainment The Word of God isn't for our entertainment. It is for our benefit. Given to us to build our faith, enlighten us towards salvation, show us how to walk in freedom, help us endure through the darkness, reveal heaven's truths. The Word of God is our guide, our comfort, our source of spiritual nourishment. The words of God point us to the person of Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven. For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16) Are We Captivated and Hungry? If restoration in my life comes through His story, why am I not more captivated and hungry to devour it? Has it become so familiar that I am no longer fascinated by the chapters? I know what's coming next; I turn a page and have a sense I have been here before. Some of the passages are so familiar, I skim through, no longer in awe, or surprised, or moved the way I used to be - back when the story was "new" and the revelations more inspiring. Because of this familiarity, the surface reading of memorized verses and Bible stories effortlessly recalled - this is why we worship! Why We Worship Worship bypasses our human tendency to seek entertainment over devotion. Worship breaks the spell of our monotonous scrolling, podcast perusing, the leisurely downloading of information on iPads, tablets, or cell phones. Worship is our reset button, like flipping a circuit breaker, bringing our hearts online. Worship awakens our senses and tunes us into the person of Jesus. As we worship, our hearts open, our minds soften, and we become more aware of His presence and the profound influence of His words. Knowing, feeling, experiencing Him in this way adds new color, texture, and truth to reading His Word. King Of Kings King of Kings is packed phrase by phrase with Scripture. Line by line, we can sing the restoration story of the church, the gift given in the person of Jesus and the Holy Spirit's ministry, all the hope in the gospel. Worshipping through each verse, we sing of how the gospel of Christ stretches across eternity. Our lives are mere phrases in the storyline, and we stand with an army of believers generation after generation: we, the body of Christ on earth. Praise forever to this King of Kings, who began a story that we will tell forever and ever. "King of Kings is packed full of theology — theology releases praise. When we believe correctly about God, when we understand and get a greater revelation of who God is and what He's done, we can't help but respond in worship." – Brooke Ligertwood *By the way, in case you ever wondered if King Of Kings is a song inspired by the Word of God, here is a line-for-line reference: In the darkness, we were waiting (Colossians 1:13)Without hope without light (Ephesians 2:12)Till from heaven, You came running (Luke 1:79)There was mercy in Your eyes (Matthew 9:36)To fulfill the law and prophets (Matthew 5:17-18)To a virgin came the Word (Matthew 1:18)From a throne of endless glory (Philippians 2:6-7)To a cradle in the dirt (Luke 2:6-7)Praise the Father (1 Peter 1:3-4)Praise the Son (Ephesians 1:3)Praise the Spirit three in one (2 Corinthians 13:14)God of glory (Psalm 24:10)Majesty (1 Chronicles 29:10-12)Praise forever to the King of Kings (Jude 1:25)To reveal the kingdom coming (Daniel 4:34-35 and 7:18)And to reconcile the lost (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)To redeem the whole creation (Romans 8:21-23)You did not despise the cross (2 Corinthians 8:9)For even in Your suffering (Luke 22:41-43)You saw to the other side (Hebrews 12:2)Knowing this was our salvation (Luke 4:43)Jesus for our sake You died (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)And the morning that You rose (Mark 16:9)All of heaven held its breath (1 Peter 1:11-12)Till that stone was moved for good (Matthew 28:2)For the Lamb had conquered death (Acts 2:24)And the dead rose from their tombs (Matthew 27:52)And the angels stood in awe (Psalm 89:7-8)For the souls of all who'd come (Matthew 27:51 and Hebrews 10:19-39)To the Father are restored (1 Peter 2:24)And the Church of Christ was born (Acts 2:42)Then the Spirit lit the flame (Acts 2:1-4)Now this gospel truth of old (Genesis 3:15, Genesis 22:8, Isaiah 53, Daniel 7:9-10) Shall not kneel shall not faint (Romans 1:16-17)By His blood and in His Name (Acts 4:12)In His freedom I am free (2 Corinthians 3:17)For the love of Jesus Christ (1 John 3:1)Who has resurrected me (Colossians 3:1-4, John 11:25, Romans 6:5 and 8:11) Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. King Of Kings was written by Brooke Ligertwood, Scott Ligertwood, and Jason Ingram. *The Falls Church Anglican; by a church member, "King of Kings" Worship Article, Oct 5, 2019. www.tfcanglican.org/consider-this/2019/10/5/king-of-kings. Accessed March 6, 2021.