Saturday, December 15, 2018
PRAY and ask God to meet you and teach you as you read His word today.
READ Revelation 13. Meditate on verse 8, what do people on the earth today worship?
REFLECT
God - What does God teach us about Himself through this text? He has a plan, having written down names of some before the foundation of the world. He is still at work despite what's contained in this chapter. That's always a good thing to remember, given how the world turns.
Redeems - How does God work in our lives? God sent His Son for us (8 "the Lamb who was slain") and helps us to endure the waywardness of the world shown here.
Our - What is our identity as highlighted here? We are saints, but we are also oppressed and reliant upon God to make things better. We need the Christmas message and the hope it brings.
World - How is God calling us to share His grace with the world? There are two calls here: in verse 10 "is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints," and in verse 18 is a call for wisdom. We are salt and light and can show people the way of the Lord in the midst of turmoil, confusion, and ignorance.
RESPOND
The two beasts appearing here are a worldly authority (2 "his power and his throne and great authority") and a false prophet performing signs and misleading people to worship its image. In today's political climate in the USA and with the oppression of Christians in China and around the world, we see the battle raging and many falling away from God. We are not surprised, just as our brothers and sisters in China were not surprised at getting arrested last week. But we look forward to Christ's return. God, these words from Revelation sober us again. Some may think these visions are too fantastic to understand, but give us wisdom, Lord, to know there is evil and there is You and to put our trust in You, not in man, nor government, nor signs and wonders that are not from You. Make us wise we pray, as we wait for You.
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