Today’s Reading: Genesis 12:10 – 14, Psalm 27

God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield to all who look to him for protection. – Psalm 18:30

We start today where we ended yesterday — with the reminder that we can trust God. His way is perfect and His promises are true. Unfortunately, Abram had a big lesson to learn on what it means to truly trust God for protection.

There was a severe famine, forcing Abram to go to Egypt to find food. Now Sarai was very beautiful and Abram feared the Egyptians would kill him in order to keep her. Instead of relying on God to fulfill His promise, Abram took matters into his own hands and deceived the Egyptians by telling them Sarai was his sister – which was true (20:12), but he failed to mention she was also his wife. God had promised to protect Abram, but Abram felt the need to protect himself through deception.

Sarai’s beauty was undeniable and she was taken to Pharoah to be his wife. Terrible plagues came upon Pharoah and his household because of Sarai’s presence. Pharoah gave her back to Abram and commanded him to leave Egypt — the place they had fled to in order to survive the famine. God could have used Egypt to provide for their needs, but Abram failed to trust in Him for protection so they were back on the road.

Abram left Egypt and traveled to the region between Bethel and Ai. Their group was quite large so Abram offered to split the land with Lot, giving Lot the first choice of which land he wanted. Now all the land to the east of them in the Jordan Valley was fertile and well watered, obviously the best choice of land. Perhaps Abram had learned something from his journey through Egypt. He knew that it was not the land itself that would provide but that God would bless him regardless of which piece of land he received. After Lot chose the better half, the Lord confirmed his promise to Abram a third time:

“Look as far as you can see in EVERY direction – north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.” – Genesis 13:14-17

There was a battle between the kings in the surrounding nations and Lot was captured in the battle. Abram rescued Lot, as well as many others caught in the conflict. The king of Sodom was so grateful that he wanted to give all the goods captured to Abram as a gift. Just as Abram now knew that God was the source of his protection, he also knew God was the source of his blessings. He refused the gifts and kept his eyes on God – his Protector and his Provider.

Father God, we thank you for being our source of provision and protection. We ask that you show us this morning if there are areas of our lives in which we are taking things into our own hands, trusting in our own abilities instead of relying on you. May we learn how to wait patiently for you. Amen.

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. – Psalm 27:14

Today’s Reading: Genesis 11:27-12:9, Psalm 18

“Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” – Genesis 12:1-3

Leave and go where I show you to go. This first element of God’s promise requires more than just initial obedience, it requires continual obedience and submission — daily following wherever God leads. It is not enough that I followed obediently yesterday; I must continue to follow in obedience today. Abram did this and received confirmation of the promise God had given him.

I will make you into a great nation and bless you. This promise had great significance to Abram because his wife, Sarai, had been unable to become pregnant and they had no children. When God makes a PROMISE, we can trust Him for PROVISION. So if God was promising descendants, Abram simply needed to trust that God would provide children to Abram and Sarai. So accepting God’s promise requires daily obedience and a willingness to follow God wherever He leads, and it requires a huge amount of faith.

You will be a blessing to others…all the families on earth will be blessed through you. This promise was not just about Abram and for the benefit of Abram; it was much larger than that. There were so many other people who would be blessed through this promise, so many others relying on Abram’s faith in God and his decision to obey. Who is relying on our faithful obedience today? Are we living with the realization that our decisions today could affect someone else tomorrow?

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. – Romans 4:16b-25

I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. God promised PROTECTION to Abram, as well as guardianship of His promise.

I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety… God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield to all who look to him for protection. – Psalm 18:1-2,30

Oh Lord, we thank you for your promises. May we respond in obedience to your call on our lives, just as Abram did. May we trust you for our protection and for every blessing in life. Remind us today, oh Lord, of your many promises. Remind us that everything good in our life is not a result of our own effort, but evidence of your PROMISE, your PROTECTION and your PROVISION. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 9-11:26, Psalm 75

After the flood, Noah began to cultivate the ground, and he planted a vineyard. One day he drank some wine he had made, and he became drunk and lay naked inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw that his father was naked and went outside and told his brothers. – Genesis 9:20-22

This mistake changed the course of Ham’s life. It was an issue of disloyalty and selfishness, the heart of gossip. Instead of taking action out of respect for his father, Ham went outside and told his brothers, who took care of covering their father. Ham shirked his responsibility and brought shame to his father. Noah cursed Ham’s descendants to a life of servanthood (9:26-27) – if you don’t want to help take care of family, you will spend the rest of your life with no choice but to take care of others.

Ham was not the only one of Noah’s descendants to think too much of himself. Ham had four sons but it was his son Canaan on whom the curse landed. The curse of servanthood did not come with a humble spirit. The desire to be famous and rise above the curse remained. The tendency to think too much of themselves remained.

This is evidenced in the life of Nimrod, who became a heroic warrior. His descendants thought too much of themselves. They settled in Babylon, which became the epicenter of ARROGANCE and idolatry. Their desire was to build a name for themselves, for their own glory instead of for the glory and purposes of God.

With a shortage of stone in that area, the people used innovation and created bricks. Rather than recognizing this as a gift from God, they found excitement in the idea that they might become famous. If they could build a great tower made of bricks, the world would hear and see how wonderful they were. People would come from all around to see this tower that represented their greatness. They would become famous and there would be no need to ever leave their earthly kingdom.

Consider the sin of Adam and Eve. The serpent tempted them with the possibility of becoming like God. Eve was easily convinced by the serpent and her desire for a wisdom like God’s caused her to sin. Adam witnessed the whole thing and joined in this self-ambitious sin. They were banished from the garden, made to leave the area they had come to love.

Compare the sin of Adam & Eve to the sin of those building the tower of Babel. The people of Babylon desired to be as powerful and famous as God. Their longing for fame and fortune was stronger than their love for God. Their desire to stay there and not be scattered all over the world resulted in just that – banishment and the scattering of people across the region.

It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall…For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.” – Psalm 75:7,10

Our salvation depends on having a humble and repentant heart. If we think too much of ourselves or of what we have accomplished, we begin to depend less on God and more on what we think we can do on our own. When confronted with temptation and sin, we arrogantly choose to build our own tower of Babel.

Today may we see every good and wonderful thing in our lives as a gift from you, God. May every blessing be evidence of your generosity. Forgive us for our moments of pride. We long to be servants of your Kingdom rather than building our own fame and fortune. Help us to see the needs of others and respond with a heart of love.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 6-8, Psalm 12

The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on earth. It broke his heart. – Genesis 6:5-6

Not only does God direct us not to sin and warn us of the temptation of sin, it breaks his heart when we reject Him and choose to sin. The God of the universe cares enough to grieve when we push Him away in our attempts to live our own life and chase after all the world has to offer. He has a wonderful plan of salvation He was willing to sacrifice His Son in order to offer, and it saddens Him when we push His plan aside to make room for our own.

God sees each decision made and every sin committed. In Genesis, God grieved over His new creation and their lack of love for their Creator. He saw the selfish desires of their heart and how quickly they gravitated toward evil. But He also saw the heart of one who kept his eyes focused on God, who chose to walk in close fellowship with his Maker.

Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time. God chose to wipe all living creatures from the earth because of the violence that was everywhere. But, because of the faithfulness of one man, God created a plan to spare Noah and his family.

God told Noah that he was going to cover the earth with a flood. Noah had never experienced a flood but he trusted God. God told Noah to build a boat. Noah had never seen a boat but he trusted God. Everything God told him to do, Noah did exactly as God commanded him (6:22; 7:5). And everything God said He was going to do, He did – in His time.

It rained for 40 days and the floodwaters covered the earth for 150 days. After 5 months, Noah released a bird to see if the floodwaters on the earth had dried up. But the bird came back because there was no place for it to land. It was not God’s time. Noah sent out a dove, but again the bird came back. It was not God’s time. Seven days later, Noah released another dove and it came back with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. It was still not God’s time but it was a sign from God that the time was drawing near. Seven days later, Noah released a third dove and it did not come back. Still Noah waited patiently for God’s instructions, which came in God’s time. Noah and his family left the boat when God said to leave the boat.

The life we choose to live is never outside of HIS SIGHT. Our faith grows as we choose to live our life for HIS PURPOSES and trust IN HIS TIME, believing that He is a God who keeps His promises. From that faith comes the gift of His righteousness.

The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. – Psalm 12:6

Father God, thank you for having a plan and a purpose that goes beyond my own understanding. Help me to daily trust you enough to wait for your perfect plan in your perfect time. Thank you for today’s reminder that you are a God who keeps His promises, a God whose heart I can trust. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 4-5, Psalm 37

“With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man.” – Genesis 4:1b

Eve gave birth to a son and her response was to recognize the wonderful gift God had given her – the blessing to have another life growing inside of her. When given the opportunity to give a gift to the Lord, that son who was now a man did not respond with the same heart of gratitude as his mother. He chose not to give his best to the Lord. His younger brother, Abel, gave the best he had to offer and God was pleased with his gift, while Cain sulked in anger at God’s less enthusiastic response to his half-hearted effort.

“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” – Genesis 4:6-7

Often we make the choice of giving God less than He deserves from us. When things do not go as we want them to go, we get angry with God and wonder why He is not meeting our need to be recognized or fulfilled. We live as though God exists to reward our small contribution or to rain down His blessings on us instead of living life for the purpose of glorifying God every day.

God warned Cain that his anger was inviting sin to come and control him. He commanded Cain to subdue the sinful anger and stay in control, but Cain chose to wrap himself in self-pity. In response to his jealousy of Abel’s choice to do what was right, Cain did what was wrong – he killed his brother.

Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother?”
“I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” – Genesis 4:9

Cain was given the choice to willingly do what is right or to refuse to do the right thing. He chose the latter and God punished him for his sins. When confronted with his sin, Cain could have humbly chosen confession and repentance; instead, he chose anger again. Sin began to control Cain and God punished him for his selfish behavior. Not only did Cain have to leave his home and his family, he had to leave God’s presence.

Father God, thank you for the grace that allows me to spend time in your presence this morning. With a humble heart, I confess to you the moments when I have allowed jealousy and self-pity to creep into my thoughts, like old friends willing to help me justify my poor attitude. Thank you for the reminder to live a life that focuses on pleasing you instead of pleasing myself. Give me a heart of generosity towards you and towards those you would like to minister to through my life.

Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper – it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land. – Psalm 37:8-9

Today’s Reading: Genesis 2-3, Psalm 16

GOD RESTED

On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. – Genesis 2:2-3

I love Sundays! It is a wonderful day to rest from work and allow God to restore me for His purposes. I find it helpful to pull away from the stress and get re-centered. It is a great opportunity to look back on where God has brought me from and rest in the knowledge that He has been extremely good to me. Reading through the story of creation is a great reminder of the importance of sabbatical moments. What a gift God gives us when He calls us to be intentional with how we end each week.

With the need to rest, comes the need to sleep. Consider the gift of sleep and how God provides for us while we are laying still. It was while Adam was sleeping that God provided a companion for him. It is in our moments of stillness and rest that God often communicates with us, giving us clarity of thought and restoring us for what lies ahead.

GOD PROVIDED

God provided companionship for Adam and gave him a beautiful place to live — a place where God Himself would walk. God called man to reign over all He had created and to watch over it, but He told him not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan desired to take all that God had provided and convince Eve that it was not enough, and that is exactly what he did.

The serpent convinced Eve that she needed what God had not provided, that she deserved more. Eve had the opportunity to rest in God’s provision and follow His instructions, yet she chose to find beauty in what she could not have. Adam and Eve learned the lesson that there is no lasting joy in stepping away from God’s plan and they suffered the consequences of their sin.

GOD CONFRONTED

Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” – Genesis 3:9

In this moment, God was not asking for their physical location. He knew the exact place Adam and Eve were hiding. Perhaps God was asking them where they were spiritually. Now that they had failed to obey, now that they had sinned, Adam and Eve needed to figure out where they were with God.

Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” – Genesis 3:13a

GOD PUNISHED

Sin — to know what you ought to do but choose not to do it. Sin — to choose to do what God has made clear you are not allowed to do. One of the first lessons we can learn from the Bible is that God is a holy God who punishes us when we disobey. He has a beautiful life planned for us and we miss out on that plan when we willfully choose to follow our own sinful desires instead of walking in companionship with Him.

Father God, we thank you for making your plan for our life clear to us. Thank you for calling us to walk with you, following the instructions you have clearly laid out for us in your word. We thank you for your provision and for your restoration as we make it a priority to spend time each day in your presence. May our focus remain on you as we find beauty in what you have for us.

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. – Psalm 16:7-11

Today’s Reading: Genesis 1, Psalm 104

I think that beginnings are my favorite. I love the first chapter of a new book, the first page of an empty journal and the first hour of every day. I love newborn babies, sunrises on the beach and the first sip of a hot cup of coffee. And this morning, as I open up to the first verse of the first chapter of Genesis, I look forward to what is ahead. This is a new page of a new chapter, the opportunity to write a new story in our walk with God.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. – Genesis 1:1-2

In December of 2018, our family climbed aboard a boat before sunrise and ventured out into the Pacific Ocean in hopes of seeing humpback whales. The sky was dark and the ocean was peaceful. I was reminded of the beauty of creation and the power of our Creator. God was present. As the sun began to peek over the mountain and cast its glow across the water, I thanked God for His presence in this world and the evidence of His hand at work in all I could see and hear.

I am reminded of that early morning boat ride as I read the first chapter of Genesis. I try to imagine what it was like when darkness covered the deep waters. I consider the relationship of the Trinity as the Spirit hovered over the surface of the water, God spoke the world into existence, and the Word gave life to everything that was created. The harmony of Creation is a beautiful thing to consider.

Have you ever considered that the world was created through the act of separation. God separated the light from the darkness, which created what we know as day and night. He separated the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth, creating the sky. When God separated the waters of the earth, He created land and sea; when He separated the lights in the sky, He created a cadence of days, seasons and years. He created the animals giving some the sea to swim, others the land to roam and others He gave the sky as their playground. God created by separating.

The last eight weeks have been a unique time of separation across the earth. Families have been asked to stay home, businesses have closed their doors, and flights have been canceled. Hugs have been replaced with emojis and isolation has become the new norm. In the midst of the pandemic of 2020, God is creating. He is using this separation to give us new insight; He is using this interruption to realign our priorities.

God is daily creating us to be who He wants us to be, yet we also daily experience a separation that sin in this world causes between creation and its Creator. I find peace in imagining God’s Spirit hovering over creation just as I find peace in the knowledge that He is present in my life, hovering over and around me each day. Each day is a mixture of feeling the separation that exists until Jesus comes again, while also feeling the closeness of His involvement in my life. Separate, yet together. Distant, yet close.

Father God, thank you for sending your Spirit to be with us. I praise you for the beauty of your creation. I trust that this time of separation from you has purpose; I trust this time of separation from each other brings revival. Please continue to mold me and shape me for your perfect plan. Lord, I pray that you will be glorified in my life. I pray that you will be pleased with my daily walk and that you will be present each morning as I soak in your scriptures.

May the glory of the Lord continue forever! The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made! The earth trembles at his glance; the mountains smoke at his touch. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord…Let all that I am praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! – Psalm 104:31-35

Today’s Reading: Revelation 21 – 22

As we arrive at the last 2 chapters of Revelation, we come to some of my favorite verses — the beautiful description of what it will be like when the presence of evil and sin are removed and Christ reigns victoriously! Can you picture it? I encourage you to read the following verses aloud and let the joy of these truths wash over you.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever!”

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!…It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega – the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” – Rev. 21:1-7

The God of Creation, who existed before the world began and has always existed, is also the God of the end of life as we know it and the God of everything in between. He has plans for our life we cannot fathom and He has a new heaven waiting for us that is beyond what words can describe.

The New Jerusalem will shine with the glory of God and sparkle like a precious stone. The city walls are made of jasper and the city of pure gold, as clear as glass. There will be beautiful stones of various colors making up the foundation of the city and the gates will be made of pearls. The main street going through the New Jerusalem will be made of pure gold. Let’s listen to John’s description:

I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of the day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty – but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. – Rev. 21:22-27

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there – no need for lamps or sun – for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever. – Rev. 22:1-5

“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.” – Rev. 22:7

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” – Rev. 22:12

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. – Rev. 22:17

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people. – Rev. 22:20-21

Thank you for joining me on this chronological journey through the Bible. I pray God blesses you richly as you continue to daily spend time in His presence. Tomorrow I will start back in Genesis with daily readings that will help me read through the Bible in the coming year. The timing should work out to study the life of Christ from December to Easter.

I would love for you to join me for another journey through the scriptures. Each morning, I will start my day with a hot cup of my morning coffee and time in the presence of my Savior. I am asking God once more to make His word alive and fresh, giving me new insights into familiar scriptures. Feel free to join me as we ask God to deepen our understanding of who He is and who He has created us to be.

Today’s Reading: Revelation 20

Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years. – Rev. 20:1-6

There is little information on what the 1000 years will look like and much disagreement among believers on the order in which all of this will take place. What we can take from this passage for certain is that God rewards those who remain faithful during even the worst of persecutions and trials. The difficult times we endure do not go unnoticed by God, nor are they forgotten. In the same way, those who do evil and who do not remain faithful are also noticed by God.

When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. He will go out to deceive the nations – called Gog and Magog – in every corner of the earth. He will gather together for battle – a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them.

Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. – Revelation 20:7-15

We serve a just God who deals accordingly with sin. Those who remain rebellious and unrepentant will suffer the consequences of their choices. Rebellion against God does not go unnoticed. God deals sternly with sin. Those who reject what Christ did for them when he died on the cross so they could receive salvation will experience another kind of rejection on the day of final judgment. Those who want to share in everything this world and Satan have to offer will also share the same fate – the eternal lake of fire.

Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone who has ears should listen and understand. – Matthew 13:40-43

He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. – Romans 2:7-8

This describes so many of our loved ones who are living for themselves, refusing to obey the truth laid out for them in God’s word. Do we think about their fate? Do we avoid tough conversations? It is uncomfortable to confront sin, but God also calls us to speak the truth in love. If we truly love them, we will pray the Spirit will lead us into opportunities to point them back to the light and away from the deceit of darkness. Let’s pray for God-appointed opportunities and Spirit-led conversations.

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? – James 2:14

Revelation has always been a difficult book for me to study but I have never doubted the truth in its words. I do not have a full understanding of what the final days will look like but I do have faith that God will do exactly what He said He will do.

Thank you for all who have journeyed with me from Genesis to Revelation over the last 16 months. In 2 days, I will begin another walk through the Bible. I invite you to join me again. I am asking God to give me a new perspective as I study His word. Whether you choose to go back to Genesis with me or not, I encourage you to continue to spend time in God’s word everyday. Allow His presence to do a work in your heart as He speaks to you through His written Word.

Today’s Reading: Revelation 19

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. – Revelation 19:11-13

We are SO blessed to serve a God described as Faithful and True. That has absolutely been my experience in 2020, during the good times and bad. He is fair and He wages a righteous war. He is indescribable and bigger than we can ever completely understand. His robe is dipped in blood and Isaiah helps us understand why.

Why are your clothes so red, as if you have been treading out grapes?
“I have been treading the winepress alone; no one was there to help me.
In my anger I have trampled my enemies as if they were grapes.
In my fury I have trampled my foes.
Their blood has stained my clothes.” – Isaiah 63:2-3

He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. – Revelation 19:13b

John was the disciple who opened up his account of the life of Jesus with a description of Christ as “The Word”, which adds to the personal significance of this moment for John.

In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. – John 1:1-5

The armies of heaven, dressed in finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. – Rev. 19:14-16

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. – Hebrews 4:12-13

Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast – miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies. – Rev. 19:19-21

Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. – 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon – that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan – and bound him in chains for a thousand years. The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. – Rev. 20:1-3a

I love the visual descriptions of the beauty John saw in his revelation, but the harshness of the judgments and plagues are unpleasant to even consider. Yet in the midst of all the descriptions of evil unleashed, I love that it ends with the glorious victory of our Lord Jesus Christ. No matter how dark things get, darkness can NEVER extinguish the light. Christ has already won the victory and the day is coming when evil will be bound and locked up. Praise God!

In the meantime, I pray for those who are currently being deceived. I pray for those who are choosing to enjoy the pleasures of this world instead of believing in the truth and walking in the light. For them, I pray this morning. I pray they will love and accept the truth that can save them. My prayer is that they will come to know our God who is Faithful and True.