Reigning with Christ | July 8th, 2026

Revelation 20:1-6
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Matthew 19:27-30
27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

We who follow Christ will judge nations in the millennium and even judge fallen angels. But this future authority should transform our present character. If we'll judge greater matters, shouldn't we handle today's conflicts with wisdom and grace? The Corinthian church brought shame to the church because they did not consider the end for their present! They were unforgiving and dragging one another into the courts! It is always a sad thing to watch the church be in disunity, despite the amazing unity we should have and will have in Christ! Let the future reality of having this delegated authority to serve Christ as judges over His 1000 year reign make us those who can judge with righteous judgement  Don't miss the present preparation for future responsibility.

Calling: Practice faithfulness in small things now. Cultivate love, wisdom, and discernment today. Your faithful service in this age prepares you for ruling responsibility in the age to come. Live worthy of your calling.