Reflection on Revelation 1 | 沉思启示录1

Author：Karen   Narrator：Liying

If you are being asked to share one verse from Bible, which one you are going to pick? I know exactly which one I am going to choose: John 3:16.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

We probably are quite familiar with this one verse. So when I read Revelation 1 and find a similar verse, I am a little shocked by the fact that I did not find it earlier. Revelation 1:5b to 6

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father, to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

The first chapter of Revelation is talking about Jesus who loves us so much, freed us(past tense) from our sins by his blood,  transforms our lives to serve as priests to God the Father. This is gospel. We can use Revelation to share gospel to unbelievers. This is the first time I realize this. I knew that the whole Bible and every single book in Bible can be used to share gospel. I'm convinced now.

When we share gospel with others, we must tell them that the purpose God saves us is to serve Him. God gives us an amazing privilege to speak on His behalf and represent Him to others. We communicate the gospel to those who have not yet receive God's salvation. We extend God's mercy and compassion to people in need. We teach othets what God has taught us. We represent people before God as we intercede in prayer. Those things are our duties as His priests. Please check our daily duties or chores to see if they match our calling as priests.

God calls us to serve Him, to be His priests. He equips and encourages us as His representatives through His Word. We need to read the Word and rely on Him daily. This is the only possible way to do our service.

 

如果有人要你分享圣经中的一节经文，你会选哪一节呢？我明确知道自己会选这一节：约翰3：16

“神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信祂的，不至灭亡，反得永生。”

我们大家对这节经文可能都很熟悉，所以，当我这次在启示录第一章读到类似经文时，我多少有些惊讶自己竟然以前读时没注意到这节：启示录1：5b，6

“祂爱我们，用自己的血使我们脱离罪恶，又使我们成为国民，作祂父神的祭司。但愿荣耀，权能归给祂，直到永永远远。阿门！”

启示录的第一章就讲耶稣如此爱我们，用祂的宝血把我们从罪中释放出来，让我们生命改变成为父神的祭司。这是福音。我第一次意识到，我可以用启示录来跟不信主的人传福音，不仅整本圣经，圣经中的每一卷书都可以用来传福音，我确信无疑了。

当我们跟别人分享福音时，一定要告诉他们，神救赎我们的目地是要我们服侍祂。神给了我们特权代表祂，在别人面传讲祂的话，把福音传给还没得救的人，把神的怜悯和慈爱带给有需要的人，把神教导给我们的教导别人。我们也替别人在神面前代求。这些是我们作祭司的责任，让我们都检查一下自己每天做的事，是不是符合我们当祭司的呼召。

神呼召我们服侍祂，作祂的祭司。祂也装备我们，赐我们能力代表祂，传讲祂的话。我们每天需要读祂的话，依靠着祂，这样才有可能服侍祂。