Christian Reflection and Prayer

From Crosswalk.com

Scripture:

Revelation 1:17-18:

He placed his right hand on me and said:
"Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold
I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys
of death and Hades."

Reflection:

Based on these two verses he writes:

Lord Jesus, how timely, stunning and
encouraging to know that the most
repeated command throughout the whole
Bible is "Do not be afraid". The angels
spoke these words to startled shepherds
at your birth, and you repeated the
command to a devastated Mary on the
morning of your resurrection, and now
you speak these liberating words to my
heart and conscience, "Do not be afraid!"

Because you are the First and the Last,
Jesus, I don't have to be afraid of anything in
between. You are God, and I am not. You will
never say "Oops" about anything in world history
or in my own life. You never "try" to do anything.
You never have to scratch your head in confusion.
You never have to resort to plan B. You are
perfectly executing your sovereign will, from
naming the stars to numbering my hairs. Glory!

Because you are the Living One, who was
dead and who is now alive forever, I don't have
to be afraid of judgment Day or this day. For
your death on the cross is my judgment Day
and your resurrection from the dead is my
assurance of being eternally and fully accepted
by God. Constantly sung over me by my Father,
and all my brothers and sisters in you, is the most
liberating of all lyrics, "There is now and forevermore
NO condemnation for those who are in Christ!" Not
only is there no condemnation, there is only full
delight! Oh my goodness!

Because you hold the keys of death and Hades,
Jesus, and to everything else, I don't have to be
afraid to die, or to live. You have robbed the grave
of its victory, you have removed the sting of death,
and you have defeated the devil and all the powers
of darkness! I don't have to be afraid of people. I
don't have to be afraid of failing. I don't have to be
afraid of getting old. Yes, yes, yes!

Place your right hand on me today in the
gospel, that I might be freed more fully from my
fears and live more fully to the praise of your glorious
Name. Amen and Amen forever!

To live is Christ, to die is gain!