Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

—James 1:2-4

Joy and trials don’t seem like words that go together very well. When I think of joy, I think of spending time with my family, hanging out with friends, and celebrating life’s moments with others. Right now, most of us can’t do any of these things because we are in quarantine. We are either alone or with close family and we can’t see or be around other people. It doesn’t feel very joyful. It feels difficult, frustrating and confusing, among many other emotions.

The Greek word for ‘joy’ used in this verse is ‘chara’ which can be translated as cheerfulness, calm delight or gladness. These are all emotions many of us wish we had right now! But what James is exhorting is that we can take hold of these emotions because trials test our faith and produce perseverance. As Believers, we desire to be mature in our faith, we want to show others what a strong faith is, but that strength often comes through trials! In addition, the word used for perseverance here can be translated to steadfastness, constancy, and endurance. I long for this and I know you do too.

A handful of years ago I went through a pretty intense medical situation and during that season it definitely didn’t feel like joy, but looking back, the Lord was so near to me and He never left my side. I experienced great peace and a testing of my faith like never before. It allowed me to grow in compassion, mercy, and patience, especially with others. I wouldn’t have learned those lessons if it wasn’t for that experience.

A change in perspective can allow us to see current trial of the coronavirus as an opportunity to strengthen our faith. Consider it a workout for your faith, allow yourself to build your muscle of faith through exercising your strength and patience day in and day out. Look around you and find the joy in the situation and see it as a chance to grow closer to the Lord.

As you are in quarantine, either by yourself, or with others, take stock of what is happening around you. Maybe keep a journal of the emotions you are feeling throughout the day. Find the moments of thanksgiving and find the joy in the situation. Write down what you are thankful for. Use this to draw near to the Lord as you recognize His goodness in the midst of this trial but also to encourage others around you who can’t seem to see past the difficult situation.

Practical Takeaway: Record your thoughts and feelings as well as your thanksgiving and praise to the Lord!

“’I, Yeshua, have sent My angel to testify these things to you for My communities. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.’

The Ruach (Spirit) and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, 'Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come—let the one who wishes freely take the water of life! I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his share in the Tree of Life and the Holy City, which are written in this book.

The One giving testimony to these things says, 'Yes! I am coming soon!’ Amen! Come, Lord Yeshua!”

            —Revelation 22:16-21 TLV

I think this is one of the most amazing passages in Scripture, this final section in the last chapter of Revelation. Here is this passage, where Yeshua not only gives us a great encouragement, but also a warning. Adding to this beautiful passage is an interjection from the Ruach (Spirit) and the bride (Body of Messiah). Let’s dig in to find hope, encouragement and the inspiration to overcome.

Yeshua says He sent an angel to John to testify of all we have seen and heard in Revelation. Then Yeshua begins to reveal and solidify His identity to all of us as the One who is the full Messianic revelation that the prophets saw in the Torah and Tanakh (Old Covenant Scriptures). Yeshua says “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

Then suddenly we have an interjection from the Ruach (Spirit) and Bride (Body of Messiah) who say “Come!” There is encouragement for those who hear, those who are thirsty, and those who wish to take the water of life to “Come!”

Now Yeshua ends our holy Scriptures with these encouraging words by testifying that He is the One saying the prophecies of Revelation are true and that He is coming soon!

The final words of Yeshua, John, the Spirit and the Bride give us an anthem and a chorus to believe in, hope in and overcome through until He returns. Bo Yeshua Bo! Come Jesus Come!

I encourage you as we end this devotional week to join in with all the Believers from history, the great cloud of witnesses, all of Heaven and “set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Yeshua the Messiah.” (1 Peter 1:13) 

Now take some time to carefully reflect on the questions below and journal your answers.

1. What is God saying through His Word?
2. What is God saying to me?
3. How should/can I respond?

“Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life—bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the city’s street. On either side of the river was a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

—Revelation 22:1-2 TLV

We have come to the last chapter in the book of Revelation, and in this chapter we reach the crescendo of Genesis to Revelation. Now, if you want the full context of this chapter I suggest you read chapters 19-21 first and read chapter 22. However, for this devotional I will give a little context. In chapter 21 we find that there is a new Heaven and a new Earth, with the addition of the New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven to Earth. When we move into chapter 22, we find God the Father and Yeshua reigning from the New Jerusalem. This city is described in great detail, but one of the things John sees, and makes sure to point out, is the Tree of Life.

Now this is interesting! We all know the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden and how they took the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil but were removed from the Garden before they could take a bite from the Tree of Life.

So, what is it about this tree and why is it so special? John gives us some insight into this, and I believe it will give you hope and inspiration to overcome. John says that the Tree of Life bears fruit continually and its leaves heal the nations. John sees this tree in the New Jerusalem, the holy city, as a source of power and healing. Now, just a few verses later John reads some powerful words from Yeshua who uses the Tree of Life as a reward or inspiration of why we should be hopeful and overcome!

“Then he tells me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do righteousness, and the holy still be holy. Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to pay back each one according to his deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. How fortunate are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and may enter through the gates into the city.’”

          —Revelation 22:10-14 TLV

What I want to point out and what I want us to focus on about the Tree of Life, is that Yeshua could have listed many rewards and pointed out many amazing things about the eternal age and our future rewards. However, what Yeshua highlights as a motivator and a privilege when He returns to judge is the right to the Tree of Life!

Yeshua says “Behold my reward is with Me, to pay back each one according to his deeds” and the primary motivator He uses to inspire hope to do righteous acts (mitzvah) and to be holy is the Tree of Life. Notice the tree is in the holy city and you need access to get there. Yeshua says if you overcome in this life, you also gain the right to “enter through the gates into the city” where the Tree of Life is located.

Maybe you have not thought about the Tree of Life in a long time, but Yeshua reminds us again of the tree that Adam and Eve lost the right to in Genesis. Now at the end of the story in our recorded Scriptures, Yeshua says upon His return, by overcoming in this life, we gain the right to the Tree of Life and to enter the New Jerusalem! Remember, Yeshua prayed for us to be one with Him and the Father (John 17) and to be where He and the Father dwell in glory. It started in the holy garden and will end in a holy city, but at the center will be the Tree of Life.

Now take some time to carefully reflect on the questions below and journal your answers.

1. What is God saying through His Word?
2. What is God saying to me?
3. How should/can I respond?

“Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude—like the roar of rushing waters or like the rumbling of powerful thunder—saying,

‘Halleluyah!
For Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot reigns!

Let us rejoice and be glad
and give the glory to Him!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and His bride has made herself ready,

She was given fine linen to wear, bright and clean!
For the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the kedoshim (holy ones).’

Then the angel tells me, ‘Write: How fortunate are those who have been invited to the wedding banquet of the Lamb!’ He also tells me, ‘These are the true words of God.’”

            —Revelation 19:6-9 TLV

Here in chapter 19 of Revelation, John writes that there is a future wedding – and not just any wedding – the wedding banquet of the Lamb! How marvelous is this new information and invitation! Or is it really new? Let’s take a look in Scripture.

In Matthew chapter 22 (see verses 1-11 for full parable), Yeshua tells a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven, and He compares it to a wedding feast. Yeshua states that a wedding banquet is being prepared; many are invited, but some are not ready. And He even says the right wedding clothes are important.

Again, in Matthew chapter 25, Yeshua tells another parable about wise and foolish virgins (read verses 1-12 for full parable). In this parable Yeshua compares the Kingdom of Heaven (or Day of the Lord) to 10 virgins waiting for their bridegroom. Yeshua states that five of the virgins are wise and five are foolish, but all grow weary in waiting for their bridegroom to appear. When he does appear only the five wise virgins enter into the wedding feast!

“…And those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. Now later, the other virgins came, saying, ‘Sir, Sir, open up for us!’ But he replied, ‘Amen, I tell you, I do not know you.’ Therefore stay alert, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

         —Matthew 25:10b-12 TLV

Now back to the book of Revelation where we read this portion of chapter 19 with new lenses. Yeshua has given us context and some clarity about this event, but John is now seeing and giving us details into this future event at its culmination! I believe these details should encourage us greatly.

1. John sees a great multitude! The encouragement here is that there is a great multitude of Believers throughout time who not only receive the invitation to Yeshua’s wedding banquet, but are seated at the table.
2. This multitude is worshiping and praising God that this day has come! This multitude were like the five wise virgins waiting for their bridegroom.
3. John tells us that the “bride” (of Messiah) has been made ready and has been given the proper wedding attire to wear. John also says that this fine bright and clean linen that the guests are dressed in are the righteous deeds (mitzvah) of the Believers (holy ones).
4. Finally, an angel says to John “how fortunate are those who have been invited to the wedding banquet” and goes a step further to make sure John writes down that “these are the true words of God.” This day and these words are real and true!

I hope you can find great encouragement in these passages as I have over the years. Yeshua has invited a multitude to His wedding day and it is a glorious day! What He asks of us is to be ready ( live a faithful life of devotion to loving Him and others). When we do this, we are fulfilling good deeds (mitzvah) that make us bright and clean on His wedding day.

When we face trials or difficult times, our human tendency can be selfish or operate from the flesh rather than love and the Spirit. I encourage you to picture this day when you are faced with difficult times, days, weeks and even people. When we operate from a place of hope because we have a great future, then we will live out of the place of love and good deeds. Let’s not be those invited who were not ready, but those who overcome through hope and love.

Now take some time to carefully reflect on the questions below and journal your answers.

1. What is God saying through His Word?
2. What is God saying to me?
3. How should/can I respond?

Here in chapter 15 we get another view into a future scene of Heaven. John says he saw another “great and wonderful sign in Heaven,” and this is the sign:

“And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name standing by the sea of glass, holding the harps of God. And they are singing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying,

‘Great and wonderful are Your deeds,
Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the nations!

Who shall not fear and glorify Your name, O Lord?
For You alone are Holy.
All the nations shall come and worship before You,
for Your righteous acts have been revealed!’”

          —Revelation 15:2-4 TLV

John sees another scene of worship in Heaven (note there are a lot of these in Revelation) and again he says the context of this worship scene are those who have overcome.

John says there are those who have overcome the beast and his image and are now standing on the sea of glass worshiping with singing and instruments! They are signing after victory!

I hope you are beginning to see some of the pattern in the book of Revelation that a key element of Heaven and a key element of those who overcome difficulties on Earth both employ worship. If you are finding yourself struggling to overcome difficulties in your life or face the current situation we find ourselves in around the world, might I encourage to use the key element of worship to lift your life and find victory. Join all of Heaven and worship!

Now take some time to carefully reflect on the questions below and journal your answers.

1. What is God saying through His Word?
2. What is God saying to me?
3. How should/can I respond?

“Then I heard a loud voice in Heaven saying, ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Anointed One, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters—the one who accuses them before our God day and night—has been thrown out. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives even in the face of death.’”

—Revelation 12:10-11 TLV

Chapter 12 of Revelation speaks of the “accuser of the brethren” and the “ancient serpent” or “Satan” being cast down from Heaven to the Earth. Now the point of this section is not to focus on the theological timing of this event, but to draw out how to overcome the evil one.

We see in this chapter that when Believers are faced with the fury of the evil one against them, there is a way to overcome! The Scripture above says that Believers overcome the evil one “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.”  

There is deep meaning to these two statements. One statement is built on the work of another (Yeshua) and an action. The second statement is built upon declaration of our testimony to God’s work in our lives.

1. Overcoming by the blood of the Lamb - Yeshua is our perfect Passover (Pesach) Lamb. He alone has accomplished the work for us, yet we must apply the blood of the Lamb to the doorpost of our hearts and lives to overcome.
2. Overcoming by the word of our testimony - We overcome by faithful commitment to God and by declaring His goodness in our lives. We are even willing to declare that we will not waver from our faith in Yeshua during trials, tribulations or even in the face of death.

I want to encourage you to find hope from this passage. When we apply the blood of Lamb to our hearts and lives and commit to faithfully declaring God’s goodness to us, then we overcome!

Now take some time to carefully reflect on the questions below and journal your answers.

1. What is God saying through His Word?
2. What is God saying to me?
3. How should/can I respond?

“…Each man is to take a lamb for his family… They are to take the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the crossbeam of the houses… When I see the blood, I will pass over you. So there will be no plague among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12: 3, 7, 13).

Passover is the most important Jewish holiday of the year. For the Israelites, Passover led to a new relationship with God as He demonstrated His call upon the Jewish people to be a nation unto Him.

God also placed within Passover a picture of something new He would do in the future. In the Passover lamb, we have an image of the Messiah whose blood established the new covenant by which we can have a relationship with God (Jeremiah 31:31–33, 2 Corinthians 5:17). The apostle Paul proclaims that Yeshua (Jesus) is our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7).

When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He paved the way for something new – in the immediate, their freedom, and a Land where they could thrive. In the future, He sent Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah to free us from sin and give the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence with those who believe.

Whether God brings us out of troubled times or carries us through them, He often uses such circumstances to open the way for fresh things in our lives. He may want to lead us onto a new path or into a new level of intimacy with Him.

God brings us out and through to pave the way for something new, to lead and bless us.

“Here I am, doing a new thing. Now it is springing up – do you know about it? I will surely make a way in the desert, rivers in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19).

Chapter four of Revelation gives us insight into the scene around God’s throne. John says, “immediately he was in the Ruach (Spirit)” and he began to see this eternal reality and scene of worship around God’s throne! Look at what John sees:

“The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes all around and within. They do not rest day or night, chanting,

‘Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh
Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot,
asher haya v’hoveh v’yavo!

Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God of Hosts,
who was and who is
and who is to come!’

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the One seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. And they throw their crowns down before the throne, chanting,

‘Worthy are You, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
For You created all things,
and because of Your will
they existed and were created!’”

          —Revelation 4:8-11 TLV

What an incredible reality and scene! John says the angels and elders around God’s throne never cease to say that He is Holy, the elders submit to His authority by casting their crowns, and then they proclaim His sovereign rule over all things. I think that we can find hope and ways to overcome difficulty in this life by following the above passage.

1. Seek things above, where Messiah is seated (Colossians 3:1)
2. Focus our minds on things above, not on things on the Earth (Colossians 3:2)
3. Now that our minds are focused on things above, we are ready to join with the heavenly host and PRAISE and PROCLAIM that He is Holy and Worthy
4. Finally, don’t miss this key example from the elders in Heaven: they submit to God’s sovereign rule over all things

If you find yourself with anxiety, fear or uncertainty during these times then follow the example above! Let’s focus our minds on Him so that we can praise and proclaim His holiness even in trying times.

Now take some time to carefully reflect on the questions below and journal your answers.

1. What is God saying through His Word?
2. What is God saying to me?
3. How should/can I respond?