Revelation Chapter 5: Verses 3-5 (NLT)
And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?”But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
I think nowadays there is a pressure to “fit in” with the norm, or to meet a particular standard, and that can put a tremendous pressure on people who might feel that they will not reach that place. I well remember, in my role as a practice manager, the GP contract arrangements that were the way practices were funded for a number of years. There were a range of quality outcomes that earned “points”, and those points translated into funding. What started off as a way to ensure a consistent quality of care throughout practice areas became a very stressful time for many practices as they strove to tick off the boxes to achieve the necessary points. Some managed to achieve maximum, or near maximum points, whilst others did not. It became a bit like a league table, and eventually the funding arrangements changed because the pressure was too hard for some.
We can see in the book of Revelation that however hard we might try to be good enough to come before God, based on our own achievements, we will never be good enough, no matter how “good” we believe that we are, or what we do on God’s behalf. That’s why Jesus came. He fulfilled all the requirements for us. And that’s why in the run up to Christmas, with the pressure some people feel to make everything perfect, we remember that Jesus came as a baby, in far from perfect circumstances, to make sure that the way to God is open to anyone who will accept the work that He did on the cross. And that is why Christmas is worth celebrating. Its all about what Jesus did, and never about what we have or haven’t achieved. That should take the pressure off all of us.
Dear Lord,
I am so grateful that Jesus was found worthy to fulfil all of the requirements of the law on my behalf. Help me never to compare myself to others, or judge others by the standards set by the world. Thank You Jesus for being willing to come to earth and live Your life, and give it up so that I can live as God intends. You are indeed worthy to receive all glory and praise! Amen