THE
ALPHA AND OMEGA
BREAD
7 Look,
he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who
pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So
shall it be! Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7-8 (NIV)
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7-8 (NIV)
12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will
give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am
the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:12-13 (NIV)
13 Now
all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his
commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. 14 For God will bring every deed
into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV)
36 For
from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory
forever! Amen. Romans 11:36 (NIV)
14 For
Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and
therefore all died. 15 And he
died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for
him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV)
10 By the
grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone
else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any
foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this
foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for
what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with
fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives,
he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself
will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV)
10 See,
the Sovereign Lord comes with
power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his
recompense accompanies him. Isaiah
40:10 (NIV)
27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory
with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has
done. Matthew 16:27 (NIV)
BUTTER
“Our
Lord should be the Alpha and Omega of our life’s end and aim. What is there
worth living for but Christ? What is there in the whole earth that is worth a
thought but Jesus? Well did an old writer say, ‘If God be the only Eternal,
then all the rest is but a puff of smoke, and shall I live to heap up puffs of
smoke, and shall I toil and strive merely to aggrandise myself with smoky
treasures that the wind of death shall dissipate for ever?’ No, beloved, let us
live for eternal things, and what is there of eternal things that can be chosen
but our Lord? O let us give him next year the Alpha of our labour. Let us begin
the year by working in his vineyard, toiling in his harvest field. This year is
almost over. There is another day or two left—let us serve him till the year is
ended, going forward with double haste because the days are now so few. Lord,
‘teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.’ Let
your time and your talents, your substance and your energies, all be given to
my Master, who is worthy to be your soul’s Alpha and Omega.” Charles H. Spurgeon
“Lord,
make us mindful of the Glory that is ours in Christ Jesus. Let us savor our relationship
with You and let us use every opportunity to tell the wonderful news – the Gospel
of Jesus Christ to those around us - and as we have the ability, to send and
carry that news to all parts of the world.
And Father, save, protect, keep and provide for our families. Protect us
from the warfare waged against us by evil men and by Satan and his armies.
Deepen our faith. Let us look to You and receive strength and power; let us
stand firm. Let us cherish the times that
we can spend together and let us think of and pray for one another when we are
apart. Let us love one another deeply. May the Love of Christ overflow from our
hearts. May people who are around us and see us know that we are Christians by
our love. May our countenance, our faces
display Christian Love.” Roger Killian
“We draw
people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them
how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so
lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.” Madeleine L’Engle
“Jesus
reminds us that we do not belong to this world. We have been sent into
the world to be living witnesses of God's unconditional love, calling all
people to look beyond the passing structures of our temporary existence to the
eternal life promised to us.”
Henri Nouwen
“Total surrender to ‘the love of Christ’ is the only thing that will bear fruit in your life. And it will always leave the mark of God’s holiness and His power, never drawing attention to your personal holiness.” Oswald Chambers
HEART
SAVOR
- · Everything belongs to God – everything. I am accountable to Him and am to live my life for an audience of One. He is to be my life’s end and aim.
- · It is God Who will one day judge my deeds.
- · I am not to live for myself but for Him who died for me and was raised again.
