Thursday, December 20, 2018
PRAY and ask God to meet you and teach you as you read His word today.
READ Revelation 18. Meditate on verse 12-13 - what cargo do people chase after lustfully today?
REFLECT
God - What does God teach us about Himself through this text? He is mighty (8) and He will judge. He is gracious in calling out His people (4).
Redeems - How does God work in our lives? He calls us out and He judges to show what is righteousness and who are His. He will complete His promises to us.
Our - What is our identity as highlighted here? We are secure in His judgments, spared from the fate of those who do not turn to God for salvation. We are also called to be separate from the sinfulness of the world.
World - How is God calling us to share His grace with the world? This metaphorical Babylon/woman is proud in her sin, "As she glorified herself and lived in luxury" (7). The world is proud in its vainglory and dismissive attitude towards God. Knowing how things will end, we must call others to turn to God and come out and be separate by turning to follow God.
RESPOND
Interesting that this extended metaphor (as was the case with the Old Testament prophets) uses Babylon, the kingdom that conquered Judah and Jerusalem in 586BC, as a representative for the enemies of God. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar was very full of himself and ignorant of God...until God showed up through Daniel and his friends. The prophecy of Revelation forecasts the judgment to come, but it also offers an opportunity to avoid such terrible destiny as described here if people turn away from sin and turn to God in faith. God, over the years, Advent offers some an opportunity to celebrate and anticipate Christ but it seems the number of those who ignore Jesus grows. Our world is full of distractions and sinful pursuits, hinted at even in the rawness of the commercial relationships explained here in chapter 18 - Christmas has become commerce! Turn our hearts back to You, we pray, in Jesus' name.
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