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Hear the devotional narrated here: https://bit.ly/3wgAz3E
10 And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him;4 they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 New Revised Standard Version Bible)
A blessed and joyous Tuesday to you, dear Friend, is my prayer for you. May we continue to pray for those in need: The Rev. Dr. Roberto Gomez continues to slowly improve but needs our prayers for this forward progress to continue. Mr. & Mrs. Eloy and Carmen Rodriguez, both have Covid, and Carmen's Mom, Ms. Elisa Gaytan, continues to be in severe pain in rehabilitation therapy in Edinburg, May God bless them with healing and comfort, and may God be with those who also need our prayers. Pray for one another, and share your needs with the Lord. Pray for peace in the world and in the hearts of those who do not yet know God's peace.
The Apostle John continues his beautiful narratives of the glorious vision of what will be. He was granted access to see how the glorious eternal home will be. There will still be mountains, but no more sea. Which settles the age-old question many ask; are you a mountains person or ocean person? Well, for the time being... Please note in the new Jerusalem there will be no temple, for the temple is the "Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb." There will be no need for the sun or moon, for the brilliance of God will be our light. All the nations there will illumined by the light of God. Even the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. These are those who throughout history have ruled justly and compassionately; who served God first and put self last. The city gates of Jerusalem will always be open, and there will be no night. There will not be anything unclean allowed in this new place, nor will people who have lived lives that practiced the unholy and untrue; only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
The first verse of chapter 22 starts descriptions of what many associate with Heaven; The river of crystal, from where the waters of life flow, and this river runs down the middle of the street of the city, and in keeping with the references in Psalms and Jeremiah, along this mighty river are planted trees whose roots are deep in that living water; and these trees are the Tree of Life, which has twelve kinds of fruit which it bears monthly, and its leaves are used for the healing of the nations. John is reminded again that nothing accursed can be found there. Here is found the throne of God and of the Lamb, and His servants will be worshiping Him. We will see God's face and God's name willl be on our foreheads (Contrast with those who will have the mark of the beast on theirs). And again, a reminder that the true light of God will replace those that have provided light here on the earth. And it closes with the promise that God will reign forever and ever. Amen.
Friends, we are still in the season of Easter, so these are encouraging messages from God for us to stay. the course and run the race. Our faith and our expressions of faith in Jesus will bless our walk and will help us see whether we end up with God or separated from Him. Ours is to live in such a way that we invite others to come and live like us, for we seek to live like He who loved us and died for us.
PRAYER: Loving Father, guide our faith to bring others and to reassure us of our faith and commitment to serve You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Live like a citizen of Heaven committed to Christ.
Receive my blessings of love and hope,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
