Log In Sign Up
Shop
  • Buy Subscriptions
  • The Upper Room Store
  • eCourses
Donate
Upper Room logo
  • Daily
    • Daily Devotional
    • Disciplines
    • Sight Psalms
    • New Every Morning
  • Prayer
    • Request Prayer
    • Prayer Wall
    • Books on Prayer
    • Articles on Prayer
  • Community
    • Walk to Emmaus
    • Chrysalis
    • Face to Face
    • Journey to the Table
    • Academy for Spiritual Formation
    • Discovery Weekend
    • eLearning
    • The Upper Room Chapel
    • International Partners
  • Engage
    • Write
    • Donors
    • Volunteer
    • Newsletters
  • Resources
    • Upper Room Books
    • Articles
  • Our Story
    • About
    • History
    • The Upper Room Chapel
    • Upper Room Ministries Blog
    • Help & Support
    • Contact

Disciplines

  • Archives
  • About
  • Submit
  • Subscribe
  • Disciplines
    • Disciplines
    • Archives
    • About
    • Submit
    • Subscribe
April 24, 2025

Unbelievable Truth

Mary Charlotte Johnson   |   Read Revelation 1:4-8

(Image by: Pixabay)
  • Text Size
  • Comment
  • Share

Share on Socials

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
Lectionary Week
April 21–27, 2025
Scripture Overview

Humans struggle to believe the truths that God reveals. In Acts the apostles face a domineering council that has ordered them to be quiet about Jesus, but they find they cannot. In Psalm 118 we wonder at the truth that God is our salvation, and in Psalm 150 we celebrate the greatness of God. In the book of Revelation we catch a glimpse of the surprise of finding Christ’s grace and peace. In John we find the apostles after the Resurrection struggling to believe this unbelievable truth without proof.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

:
• Read Acts 5:27-32. When have you seen the world differently from those in authority? How did it feel to share a truth that others did not believe?
• Read Psalm 150. Remember a time when you praised God fully, when you sang or played an instrument or danced before the Lord or served the Lord with gladness. How do you experience the presence of God in these praises?
• Read Revelation 1:4-8. Sit and soak up God’s unmerited favor and wholeness, Christ’s grace and peace. Imagine it enveloping your family, your friends, your enemies and those who have brought harm to your life.
• Read John 20:19-31. What questions are you struggling with? What would you like Jesus to show you? explain to you? reveal to you?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Revelation 1:4-8

4 John, to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace and peace to you from the one who is and was and is coming, and from the seven spirits that are before God’s throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ—the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 who made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be glory and power forever and always. Amen. 7 Look, he is coming with the clouds! Every eye will see him, including those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. This is so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and was and is coming, the Almighty.”

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

John shares with the seven churches of Asia and with us an unbelievable truth: Grace and peace are God’s gifts to us. When we behold God, grace and peace are not exactly what we are expecting to receive. We are expecting to experience divine punishment, some sort of retribution. We...

God, thank you for the grace and peace Christ offers to us all—even to those who pierced him. We rest freed from all our sins. Amen.


1 Comments
  • Share:

Save as Bookmark

Log In to leave a comment

Loading more

Citizenship in the Kingdom of God

Citizenship in the Kingdom of God

I have been involved in justice ministry since 1958. During that time, I have known dozens Read More

Related Resources

A Guide for Small Groups

View

Tips for Leaders of Small Groups

View

A Guide to Daily Prayer

View

How to Have a Daily Devotional Time

View

The Upper Room
1908 Grand Avenue
Nashville, TN 37212

Customer support:

800-972-0433

Contact The Upper Room

  • The Upper Room daily devotional
  • Store & Resource Library
  • Upper Room Books
  • Disciplines
  • The Prayer Wall
  • The Academy for Spiritual Formation
  • eLearning
  • The Walk to Emmaus
  • Face to Face
  • Chrysalis
  • Journey to the Table
  • Discovery Weekend
  • Sight Psalms
  • New Every Morning
  • About Us
  • Upper Room Ministries Blog
  • The Upper Room Chapel
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
© Copyright 2025 The Upper Room
Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Help & Support

Log In to The Upper Room

Sign in with The Upper Room

or

Sign in with Facebook

Sign in with Apple

Don't have an account? Click here to create an account and sign in.