When Christians were being severely persecuted for their faith, Jesus gave them a message of comfort and hope.
 
"And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?' And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals'" (Revelation 5:1-5).

The One sitting on the throne is God. The right hand speaks of strength. The scroll written on both sides represents all that is to happen in the future. God holds the future in His strong hand.
 
The seals kept the scroll hidden so no one could see into the future. The Lion who prevailed to open the scroll is Jesus Christ. He can make known what the future holds. Through His death for our sins and the power of His resurrection He has overcome Satan, sin, and death so that the faithful have assurance of a victorious future.
 
Knowing who holds the future in His hands, and its glorious outcome, we have no need to fear. We may be at peace and rest no matter what may come our way because we have hope of eternal life.
 
Such faith will courageously live for God. It will show and tell others that there is a powerful, loving Savior who is the only way for us all to be delivered from this world of sin and death.
 
Today I will…boldly praise the Lord before all people.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought a great hardship to many people around the world. It has caused a great problem for the church because most have not been able to assemble as a congregation. If I tell you all today to look with me in God’s word, the Bible, some might respond, “I don’t even know if there is a God. Where is He? What is He doing? Why doesn’t He take this all away? And, what does a book written thousand of years ago have to do with us today?” My answer is, “Yes, there is a God, He will take this all away and everything else in this world; and the Bible has everything to do with us.” All of this is not much different from the persecution endured by the church in Jerusalem when they were scattered from their homes, their jobs and separated from family and friends (Acts 8:1-4). It is to these Christians and others like them that Peter writes his first epistle. He gives them a message of hope that is just as relevant and powerful as it was when it was first written.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
 
Judah was facing seventy years of captivity for their sinful rebellion against God. Yet, He wants them to know His thoughts for them. It was not to do them evil, but to give them a future and a hope. This is what God wants for all His people.
 
Sometimes we find ourselves suffering the consequences of our sins, as well as the sins of others. In those times we can become discouraged, knowing only doom and destruction. Often, we become angry at ourselves, at others and at God. It is difficult for us to understand what is happening and why it is happening. Instead of turning to God in prayer and going to His word for answers and for help, we fall away from Him.