Finding gems in God's Word
Rev 19-22 The Lord God Almighty
What a powerful way to end this series: The Lord God Almighty, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
As I read this, I remember Handel’s Messiah rendering of that, and we stand in observance of those words. Truly our Lord is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
May we end this year with those thoughts in mind.
Rev 16-18 The Mind of Wisdom
Jesus, the Righteous and True, will finalize His judgments upon the unrepentant. It will come in a seven-wave series of harsher judgments, yet men will not repent. What does it take for a man to repent? Why should they repent? They should because He is the Holy One, He is, the one who is and was, and because it will be a just judgment for they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets. “They got what they deserved.” [Rev 16:6b] “Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful, your judgments are true and just!” [Rev 16:7] “They would not repent and give him glory.” [Rev 16:9]
We may not know when this will occur, but the warning is sure and true: “I will come as a thief. Blessed is the one who stays alert.”
How alert am I to His coming? As 2023 arrives, am I alert to the signs of His appearance, or am I like Jesus told Martha: “you are worried and troubled about many things.” Are those things the best things?” [Luke 10:42]
As we look forward to the New Year, may we be more like Mary and less like Martha. May we be alert to the signs of His coming, so we are prepared.
Rev 13-15 In the book of Daniel, the king demanded that all bow down and worship the image he had erected. It was neither authentic nor had power, but Jesus said people would follow and worship the beast and the dragon. Jesus came and provided evidence of His identity, but the people cried crucify him. People are easily duped into believing that which is false. In fact, God said He “would send on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false.” [2Thess 2:11]
In the time of Christ, some of the crowd said, “this is really the Prophet, but others said don’t the scriptures say that Christ is a descendant of David and comes from Bethlehem?” [Jn 7:40-42] Yet no one took time to check the authenticity of His claims. Do we check what is said?
Do we check the claims of men who come and produce signs, yet they are of the evil one? The Jews asked Jesus for a sign. Jesus said, “you study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me,” [Jn 5:39]
Here in Revelation, we find one of the signs of the counterfeit is what is said about God. “The beast opened his mouth to blaspheme God.” [Rev 13:6] What are we hearing about Christ and God from men? Am I discerning about that which is counterfeit?
Rev 9-12 What am I busy about today?
John describes what he has seen just as Jesus commanded him and what he sees is fierce and frightening, yet men remain steadfastly belligerent to the ways of God. They will long to die, but it won’t be possible. Today there is a movement to help people to die, and Canada has a book written to children on how to die and to help others die. What morbidity is this? We remember the words of Solomon, the fear of man is a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. [Prov 29:25] God reveals his wrath upon mankind, but their hearts remain hardened, but, one day, they will bow their knee to Him and confess Him as Lord. [Phil 2:10] What is my responsibility to those who do not know God? Just as John was told, “you must prophesy again.” [Rev 10:11] I am to do the same; tell the story again and again. Do not give up; perhaps one day, they will accept the message of truth.
Oh, Father, give me that persistent attitude to those who do not know You. May I not be like Martha, busy about many things that are not eternal but may I be like Mary and choose the best things.
Rev 4-8 John writes twice that he was “in the Spirit.” What does that mean to us today? Yesterday, we recalled the words of Jesus to Peter, “Follow Me!” When we are following, we are doing as Christ. He was fully controlled and permeated by the power of the Holy Spirit. The question lay before me: am I ‘in’ the Spirit? How do I know? I can know if I am demonstrating the Fruit of the Spirit, which Paul outlines for us in Gal 5: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” [Gal 5:22-23]
Today the challenge is to test the spirits to see if they are of God. 1Jo 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God,
Rev 1-3 John’s Task
Let’s step back into the life of John to the last chapter he penned while walking behind Jesus on the seashore. He was “following” Jesus challenged Peter to follow Him. Peter listened, assured Jesus that he loved him, and then as if perceptively, noted that John was following them. Peter asked Jesus about John, and these words ring from that book: “, “If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours? You follow me!” [Jn 21:22] Jesus was saying to Peter, don’t let people or circumstances distract you from the mission. John must have heard those words and taken them to heart. As a result, he was the last remaining apostle whom Jesus loved. He was given one last task: write these words to the readers, especially churches. Interestingly, he began with his “home” church in Ephesus, where he had pastored for years after his exile on Patmos. He left them thriving, but Jesus told him they had lost their first love. This takes us back to the gospel of John and the warning: do not become distracted by others or circumstances. Jesus’ words were Follow Me, which is what we are to do.
Do I find myself distracted by others or circumstances? I do, 🙁 a warning to me.
1 John 3-5 A Christmas Message from John
Today, as we stop to ponder the truth of Christmas, the Apostle John writes to remind us why God sent His only begotten Son on that Christmas night so long ago. [1 Jn 3:5] He was manifested to take away our sins, [1 Jn 3:8] He was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. In order to to do that, He had to be the propitiation [atoning sacrifice] for our sins. [1Jn 4:10] That is the true Christmas message and why Christ came long ago.
Thus celebrate Christmas and ponder those thoughts. Merry Christmas
1 Jn 1-2 Lies vs. Truth
Having just returned from Ephesus, I see myself walking that street that this dear servant walked so long ago. It is as if I can hear him speaking these words to the saints of old, warning them of the lies of our arch-enemy. He is begging them not to listen but to heed the words of the risen Christ. I wonder if he was recalling the conversation Jesus had with the young ruler about goodness. Jesus reminded him of the enemy’s first lie for us: you are good. Jesus said NO! Only God is good.
We live in a time much like the Apostle John lived with the lies of the enemy swirling around them.
Lie #1 You are not a sinner! But Truth #1 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, [Rom 3:23]
Lie #2 You do not need to keep the commandments! Truth#2 When we keep the commandments, the love of God is seen in us, and we are walking as Christ walked who kept all the commandments!
Lie #3 You don’t have to love the brethren. Truth #3 You DO have to love and shower that love upon the brethren, for that shows how you are forgiven.
Lie #4 You can love the things of the world and the love of the Father. Truth #4 You must choose, and God must be first. You cannot love both.
Lie # 5 You don’t have to say Jesus was the Christ. Truth #5 To deny Him is to deny God. If you acknowledge Jesus as the Son, you also have the Father.
Today may we yearn to abide in the Truth, for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. [Jn 14:6] No one can come to the Father if he listens and obeys the enemy’s lies.
2 Peter 1-3 As Peter sat in a Roman prison, he began to pen these words to the faithful followers of Jesus Christ. He reminded them that God’s divine power had given them all that would be needed to live a righteous life in this world. However, he also was well aware, just as Paul had noted; grievous wolves would seek entrance into their lives to destroy their faith. Thus, they must be observant and discerning. Satan is crafty, so they must act with all diligence to keep their faith strong. Peter emphasized that not just once but three times! Today we see that manifested in the two blatant lies the wolves offer: you are in the wrong body, and to be free, you must kill the unborn. And like sheep led to the slaughter, he captures the hearts and lives of the unsuspecting. Thus Peter warns: make every effort or be diligent! Peter and Paul both emphasize when the truth is ignored or rejected, God will send on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false. [2 Thess 2:11]
Prayer for yourself and other believers today: Be diligent or make every effort to add to your faith those character qualities that will keep you close to Him and walking the path of faith.
1Peter 3 Nothing is Impossible with God pt.2
Sarah is a woman of many twists and turns. We find her in Genesis, Galatians, and then Hebrews. She called Abraham’ lord,’ which Peter recalls. He also reminds the wives to whom he is speaking that, like Sarah’s condition, nothing is too hard for God when we do what is good and have no fear. As a subordinate to Abraham and considered inferior in her culture, she remains a true picture of faith, obedience, and submission.
But, who was she really?
As the wife of Abraham, she was externally beautiful, perhaps arrayed with jewels and braided hair. Or perhaps it was her inner beauty, gentleness, and tranquil spirit that captured the eye of Pharaoh and then King Abimelech. Taken by them due to Abraham’s foolish and irresponsible decision, she had to trust God when there was no other solution. Her life is a picture of the truth of Peter’s words; God’s power will protect you through faith. [1 Pet 1:5]
She was a woman who hoped and prayed for a child but remained barren. Finally, she overruled her husband, and it ended with disastrous results. Coaxed by Sarah, Abraham impregnated her maid, Hagar. A child was born from this relationship—Ishmael—and with it came the stigma—he would never truly be Sarah’s child, but always Hagar’s.
But her final triumph of faith came when she realized truly nothing is beyond the scope of God’s plan and promise when Isaac was born as a child out of due season.
Wives, will you trust God? Will your faith sustain you as it did for Sarah?