I do not often read from the Book of Revelation, but there is an intriguing bit of scripture found in chapter 1, verses 16 and 17.
The author, St. John the Evangelist, is a lonely prisoner on the barren cliffs of Patmos. He writes that he saw the glorified Christ, the one “who lives and was dead,” and who now is “alive forevermore.” “He had in his right hand seven stars,” John writes. He says that upon seeing Jesus, “I fell down at his feet as one dead.” Then, the very next words are these: “He laid his right hand upon me.”
His right hand – the hand with the seven stars in it! This hand Jesus laid upon the shoulder of a troubled, trembling man named John. What about those stars? Well, Jesus must have laid them aside somewhere.
It must be an extremely important activity to hold seven stars in one’s hand. But to hold these is not nearly so important to the Lord Jesus as it is to touch with blessing a solitary human person who is bowed before him in adoration and awe.
This is the kind of Lord we worship – one who can put aside the care of stars in order to care for one person who comes in reverence before him. Whatever else in the whole universe may be of concern to our Lord Jesus right now, nothing is more important to him than you are. As you bow before him, know that Jesus’ hand of pardon and peace is resting with blessing upon your shoulder.
Think of a time when Jesus’ hand of pardon and peace rested with blessing on YOUR shoulder.
EARTH HAS NO WORDS THAT CAN CONVEY THE HOLY CALM OF A SOUL LEANING ON JESUS!
