Cursed no longer
Day 721, Sunday, Aug. 2
Revelation Chapter 22
Nearly two years ago, in the second day of this series of daily readings, we read about a garden watered by a river that flowed from Eden. It watered all kind of trees, including the tree of life. As the story reaches its conclusion, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.”
A lot has happened between then and now.
God set out in the beginning to live in harmony with his people, in a garden of peace and plenty. But his people wanted more. They wanted the knowledge of good and evil.
We’ve all heard the warning, “be careful what you wish for.” God let them pursue their desire, and we are still learning, day by day, about good and evil. They were cursed, not from God’s wrath, but from their own desire.
But God is faithful. We have seen Revelation’s vision of the future. “No longer will there be any curse….There will be no more night.”
God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Our story began with a flowing river surrounded by God’s abundance. It will end with a flowing river surrounded by God’s abundance.
“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.”

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Sunday meditation

Song of Solomon 8:5b-14
She
Under the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who was in labor gave you birth. Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.
Friends
We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown.What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
She
I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment. Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels of silver. But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.
He
You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice!
She
Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains.

Prayer focus
Come, Lord Jesus!