Revelation 5: 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 singing with full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" 14 And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped. (NRSV)
This past Saturday while at retreat, our youngest grandchild, Eliana Beth Garcia (pictured above) came to see Grandma and Grandpa. Nellie said, "Let's take her to where the group is so they can meet her." One of our pastors saw her and immediately said, "Let me hold her." She also said a blessing and mentioned another baby in her blessing. On Sunday during prayer time, she shared how this week she had been with a family who had had twin girls born, only to lose one right away and this past week, the second of the girls died. It was an emotional sharing of a powerful and unexplainable event in the life of this family and in the life of this caring pastor. The Wesley Study Bible in notes associated with this passage from Revelation shares how since our childhood we have learned stories of "the one who could." In the story of Cinderella, it was only she who could wear the glass slipper. In the story of King Arthur, he was the only one who could remove the sword from the stone, thus making him king. It was Prince Charming who could, with his kiss, awaken Sleeping Beauty. All stories with heroic characters who met the challenge of the moment just as hope was slipping away. Long before these stories of slippers, stones, and kisses, we were looking for the One who could. The scripture has prophets hoping and declaring, the psalmists are praying, and the wise ones searched. There is One worthy. It is "the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" He is the one we worship.
The challenges of life sometimes don't make sense and there are tragedies and horrors that we encounter or read about others encountering, yet we join those who hope on this side of heaven who believe, Jesus is the One who could and does, hold us and love us, even when it seems that life does not. Worthy is Jesus of our thanks and praise.
PRAYER: Loving God, for those parents and grandparents who lost that second child, and for those like them who lost children so quickly, bring Your comfort. For those who just welcomed new children into the world and into their families, bless them too with all they need to watch over and protect their little ones. For those facing the end of life, bring eternal hope and peace. For those facing challenges of today, bless with strength and peace. In Jesus' precious and powerful name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
