EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES

"May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:2-4, RSV).

Devotion 9 of 10

Sit with Jesus in His Throne

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Rev. 3:21). This thought is NOT too high for you! It is a promise from the One who "washed" you from your sins, making you a king and a priest unto God (Rom. 1:5-6). These wonderful accomplishments prepare you to sit with Jesus on His throne! You will not sit on His lap, like a little child, but in His throne! God has a word for those who fellowship with Jesus in His sufferings--those who have been rejected by this world, and groan under the burden of mortality. "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him" (2 Tim 2:12). What a glorious promise! It is a sister to the text before us! Elaborating on the same truth, the Spirit declares, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" (Rom 7:17). A "joint-heir" is one who sits in regal splendor with Jesus on His throne! Jesus said the meek would "inherit the earth" (Matt 5:5). The Psalmist adds, "and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace" (Psa 37:11). Daniel said the time was coming when the saints would "possess the Kingdom" (Dan 7:18,22,27). The body of Christ is reminded that "the saints" will judge both "the world" and "angels" (1 Cor 6:1-2). All of this will occur when Jesus grants the overcomers to sit with Him in His throne! Now there is an exceeding great and precious promise! We are on our way to the throne--to Christ's throne! Jesus has a "grant" for everyone who overcomes the world, the flesh, and the devil. They will sit "with" Him in His throne! In our measure, we will reign with Him. The fact that few believers think in this manner only confirms that the contemporary church has not focused on heaven and heavenly things. This will not be a mere novelty. It will not be like a youngster sitting on the lap of a dignitary. Jesus is speaking of reigning, and of judging. He is promising participation in His Sovereign rule. He has been designated as the judge of the entire world (Acts 17:31). But that judgment will be carried out through His people! Let the promise engage your mind! Let the promise constrain you!

-- TOMORROW: THE CONCLUSION TO THIS SERIES -- MONDAY: A NEW SERIES, Intercessory Prayer