The Rest of Our Story

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. The reading today titled The Rest of Our Story was written by Mark DeHaan. For more than six decades, news journalist Paul Harvey was a familiar voice on American radio.

He would say with a colorful flair, You know what the news is. In a minute, you're going to hear the rest of the story. After a brief advertisement, he would tell a little-known story of a well-known person. But by withholding until the end either the person's name or some other key element, he delighted listeners with his dramatic pause and tagline.

And now you know the rest of the story. In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John's vision of things past and future unfolds with a similar promise. However, his story begins on a sad note. He couldn't stop crying when he saw that no created being in heaven or on earth could explain where history is going. Then he heard a voice offering hope in the lion of the tribe of Judah.

But when John looked, instead of seeing a conquering lion, he saw a lamb looking like it had been slaughtered. The unlikely sight erupted in waves of celebration around the throne of God. In three expanding choruses, twenty-four elders were joined by countless angels and then by all of heaven and earth. Who could have imagined that a crucified Savior would be the hope of all creation, the glory of our God, and the rest of our story?

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Revelation chapter 5 verses 1 through 10. Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll, with writing on both sides, and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll? But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

Then one of the elders said to me, Do not weep. See, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. Then I saw a lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. And when He had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth. Let's pray. Almighty God, You are the hope of all creation and deserving of all of our praise, love, and trust. Would You help us to lean on You, knowing that we only see in part, but You truly know the rest of our story? Thank You, Jesus. It's in Your name that we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. My name is Wes Ward, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.