November 2 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

The book begins and ends in the same way. Once we have read the beginning and the end, we are sure about the purpose of the writing. We know who is sending the message and to whom it is addressed. The Lord God is sending the message—the same God who spoke through the mouths of the prophets in the Old Testament. He writes to the people who were pictured in the first paragraph of the book—the new covenant people in their assembly. Here these people are called God's servants. And the purpose of the writing is to let the church know what must soon take place.

The beatitude is also repeated: "Blessed are those who keep the words of the prophecy in this scroll." The blessing is pronounced on the book-believing, Word-keeping followers of Jesus Christ. They are the ones who are permitted to know "the things that must soon take place."

These things must soon take place. This word should not make us think of some inevitable law of history. Worldly prophets seem to refer to such a law when they say "It's bound to happen" or "What's gotta happen is sure to happen." Please don't think for a moment that there is some sort of historical process according to which things must end with a bang or with a whimper.

It must happen for the same reason Jesus came in the first place. The same divine will that made it necessary for Jesus to say, "I must go to Jerusalem" and "I must suffer and die and rise again" makes it necessary for these things to happen soon.

It must happen because Christ did not die in vain. It has to take place because God is not mocked. It must take place because the prayers of God's servants cannot go unanswered. It must happen because God is God. Therefore let the earth tremble for what is about to happen.

But blessed are those who hear and keep God's Word.

REFLECTIONS

What is it, do you think, that God says must happen soon?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.