Daily Devotional with Pastor John
Monday, February 21

In His Right Hand He Held Seven Stars

I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all of its brilliance.

Revelation 1:12-16

In John’s description of Jesus it is hard not to recognize a contrast with the great image that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed and Daniel interpreted (Daniel 2:31-45). Nebuchadnezzar’s image was magnificent but it was set on a base that that was flawed, a mixture of iron and clay. When struck by a rock, it crumbled into pieces. Christ stands on legs and feet  “like bronze glowing in a furnace.” The foundation of his power is sure, it is tested by fire.

“In his right hand he held seven stars.” The seven stars would be the seven planets  which were known in the first century. It was widely believed that the movements of these planets in relation to the sun and moon and constellations gave guidance and help to people. This astrology permeated the ancient world’s religions and people believed their destinies were determined by the movement of these stars. But John tells us that Christ is the one who holds these stars in his right hand.

“Right hand” means ready for use. A shepherd with a staff in his right hand is at work; a soldier with a sword in his right hand is ready to fight, a carpenter with a hammer in his right hand is ready is ready to pound nails into wood. This one line tells us that Christ runs the cosmos. The planets do not control us and our destinies; Christ controls all things. Later in this vision (Revelation 1:20), the stars are identified as “the angels of the seven churches.” What pagans thought were gods and goddesses, impersonal, remote and controlling stars, are actually ministering angels – in this case angels assigned to churches.

Prayer Points

• Praise Christ for his power and that all things in creation, visible and invisible, are under his control and for his glory.
• Pray we will see his powerful at work in our church, our surrounding community and in our divided and fractured country.
• Pray we will live fully in the reality that he holds all things in his hands