Our Heavenly Father's Treasures
Today's Scripture
Revelation 5:7-14
Today's Insights
In Revelation chapter four, the apostle John heard a voice commanding, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place" and was immediately transported to heaven "in the Spirit", where he witnessed an extraordinary vision of heaven's throne room. In chapter five, Christ is introduced as "the Lion of the tribe of Judah", yet almost immediately He is described as "a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain". This one who lovingly receives our prayers will also one day open the scroll described in today's passage.
Today's Devotional
It's just an old pocket knife, worn and tarnished with time. The blade is chipped and the handle notched, but it was one of my father's treasures, kept in a box on his dresser until he gave it to me. "It's one of the few things I have from your grandfather," he told me. My grandfather died when my father was young, and Dad treasured the knife because he treasured his father.
The Bible reveals that God also has an unlikely treasure, something we might not expect. In Revelation, we see a throne in heaven encircled by four living creatures and twenty-four elders, bowing before Jesus in worship. Each one is holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. In ancient times, incense was something precious, used by kings—much like the gold, frankincense, and myrrh offered to Jesus in Matthew chapter two. Our prayers may not seem like much to us at times, but God wants them lifted before Him always.
Revelation chapter five emphasizes the worthiness of Jesus because of His sinless life and loving death for us. Jesus' worthiness illuminates why God values our prayers. Our prayers are precious to God because we're precious to Him. Because He loves us with such selfless, priceless, and merciful love, He longs for us to stay close to Him in prayer.
Just as my father treasured a simple pocket knife as a connection to his own father, God treasures our prayers as a sacred connection to His children. Each prayer is a golden bowl, filled with the fragrance of our trust, our struggles, our hopes, and our love.
Reflect & Pray
How will you love God with your prayers today? Who and what can you bring before Him in loving prayer? Consider your prayers not as mere words, but as precious treasures held in golden bowls before the throne of grace.
Loving Savior, You're worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!