Issue 1,132 – Awestruck – April 17, 2023
At sunrise, I stood on the dunes overlooking the Indian Ocean, watching the humpback whales blowing and breaching. I was awestruck; it was one of the most memorable moments of my life.
As powerful as that moment was, it pales compared to some experiences recorded in the Bible.
Ezekiel recounts his encounter with the glory of God. The Marys find the tomb empty. The disciples see Jesus walking on water, and the assembled crowds watch Lazarus emerge from the grave. The people of Israel watch the Red Sea part. I’m confident that you can think of others as well.
One such account comes to mind,
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Revelation 1:9-18
John says, “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.” That is a fantastic testimony to the power of God. John had walked with Jesus and seen Him transfigured, killed and raised from the dead. John had seen the miracles, and after all that, he was still flat on his face at the Lord’s appearance.
While I cannot imagine what John felt then, I can understand being awestruck at what God does. I have seen the Lord heal people, restore marriages, save sinners everyone thought were unredeemable, and more. I remember the feeling when my head broke water after being baptized in the lake.
I confess that, at times, I have also taken my Lord for granted and tried to do things in my own strength or not even think about Him. Most Christians can relate to that feeling to one degree or another.
His love for us, faithful loving-kindness and mercy, ought to cause us to be struck again with awe. Despite our propensity to wander, He never takes His hands off of us.
His faithful care for us is more miraculous than raising the dead or appearing in a vision. We have simply grown so accustomed to it that we fail to appreciate the magnitude of His love and patience.
Let us take some time today to contemplate all He has done, continues to do and will do in our lives. May we be awestruck again.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
__________________________________________
Please like and share this post with friends and your circle of influence. Also, feel free to comment.
Did you know that we have an email version? Same great content but in a different format. Subscribe today https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/ gleanings-1
_____________
We also have a website
https://gleaningsfromtheword.com
______________________________
All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
___________________________________________
#Gleanings #theWord #devotional #gospel #death #encouragement #Biblestudy #faith #dailyBible #verseoftheday #grace #KevinCorbin #god #life #GleaningsFromTheword #bible #Jesus #faith #christian #love #Christ #Father #Holyspirit #YHWH #yahweh #Jehovah #bibleverses #jesuschrist #bornAgain #church #awestruck #miracle #vision #Revelation1 #Ezekiel #gloryOf God #Baptism #Lazarus #deadRaised #whales #humpback #indianOcean #sunrise