Why does God send prophets to speak to a world for 1260 days when the world is filled stubborn and evil people who have proved they aren't listening to God?
Let's consider all that has gone on before this point. There have been plagues and disasters. God has certainly made an effort to get the attention of the people of the Earth. And now God sends messengers to speak truth about the condition of the world and the love of the Lord. Why does God do this for a stiff-necked people? The answer is love. God loves us, the Lord's created children, so much that God keeps trying. God is persistent and always hopeful that just one more will hear God's voice and choose God.
In spite of the fact that at this point in the end times, people have had many opportunities to repent, God keeps providing chances. Not because God wants to be harsh or make life difficult for people, but because the Lord wants to save then and bring them into God's eternal Kingdom.
Have you ever known someone whose love is so persistent? I often think of my parent's love for me. I don't always make the choices they would wish me to, but their love persists. They have always welcomed me home, no matter what my condition. They have also pointed me to my Lord and Savior and guided my to the greatest gift they could, a saving relationship with Jesus. Many a parent is seen standing by their child even when their child has done wrong and the world is against them. God's love is like that!
Lord, help me that I too will show that love towards others in my life. That I can love with a persistent love and be patient with those you surround me with. Help me to continually show you face to those I meet and care about. Amen
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Revelation 10 - Properties of the Word
When you hear the word, how does it taste? Verse 10 reads, "So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach."
The word of God is sweet and as Christians in relationship with God, we desire and hunger for God's word. God's word tells us of the Lord's love for us. We read this in so many places in so many different ways. God is the lover of our soul, God love's us with a sacrificial love, God's love is deeper than the deepest ocean. What could be sweeter than words of love. I don't know about you, but I am always thrilled when someone reaches out to me in love and speaks words of love and encouragement.
But this verse also tells us that the word turned sour in John's stomach. This is also true of the word, particularly when we resist the message. God's word also points out our sin and disciplines us. If we are resistant to hearing this, it becomes a negative and sour experience.
So how can we avoid the bitterness of discipline? One way is to be open to hearing what God has to tell us. To receive that word from the Lord, recognizing God's amazing love for us and hearing it through that lens of love. I have a good friend who is an example of that in my life. This friend sometimes is criticized by people because her words are "rough" and they become offended by how she tells them something. She certainly is a straight shooter and I can always count on her to tell me something straight. It won't always be what I want to hear, but it is always truth. I also know that this friend loves me and I have complete trust in that love. When she tells me something, I never hear the "roughness" of her words, I always hear loving truth. I know she wouldn't tell me things I didn't want to hear if she didn't care. Her goal is to help me on the path that Godd has laid before me. How much greater is God's love for us!
The next time God has to discipline you, think about the Lord's incredible love for you and hear that discipline for what it is, a loving word of direction to help us stay on the path that is best for us.
God bless you all today!
The word of God is sweet and as Christians in relationship with God, we desire and hunger for God's word. God's word tells us of the Lord's love for us. We read this in so many places in so many different ways. God is the lover of our soul, God love's us with a sacrificial love, God's love is deeper than the deepest ocean. What could be sweeter than words of love. I don't know about you, but I am always thrilled when someone reaches out to me in love and speaks words of love and encouragement.
But this verse also tells us that the word turned sour in John's stomach. This is also true of the word, particularly when we resist the message. God's word also points out our sin and disciplines us. If we are resistant to hearing this, it becomes a negative and sour experience.
So how can we avoid the bitterness of discipline? One way is to be open to hearing what God has to tell us. To receive that word from the Lord, recognizing God's amazing love for us and hearing it through that lens of love. I have a good friend who is an example of that in my life. This friend sometimes is criticized by people because her words are "rough" and they become offended by how she tells them something. She certainly is a straight shooter and I can always count on her to tell me something straight. It won't always be what I want to hear, but it is always truth. I also know that this friend loves me and I have complete trust in that love. When she tells me something, I never hear the "roughness" of her words, I always hear loving truth. I know she wouldn't tell me things I didn't want to hear if she didn't care. Her goal is to help me on the path that Godd has laid before me. How much greater is God's love for us!
The next time God has to discipline you, think about the Lord's incredible love for you and hear that discipline for what it is, a loving word of direction to help us stay on the path that is best for us.
God bless you all today!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Revelation 9 - Desiring Life or Death
As you read this chapter, three plagues are described, the first being locust coming from the smoke of a star that falls to earth. As it describes the plague, verse 6 says, "In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them."
I see a lot of irony in this. If we look at society today, we see people who are trying to cling to life and youth. As people, we will go through a lot to preserve ourselves, even to the point of plastic surgery to preserve our looks. people tend to fear death and do whatever they can to avoid it. But the book of Revelation tells us that during the plagues, unsaved will seek death and not find it. There will be a complete attitude reversal. People will fear life (a life of pain) more than death. Today, many fear the unknown of death more than the known conditions of life, but then, they will fear the known conditions over the unknown. This leads me to believe that this will be a time of great suffering, probably beyond what many of us can imagine or have previously experienced.
As I think about this, I am grateful to be in relationship with God. Life may not always be easy, but it is better knowing that I don't face anything alone. God is present and working towards my good and God's glory. In knowing God and knowing that death will bring me face to face with God, I don't have to fear the unknown, because I love the one who created it and God is good. And I can live, knowing that I will not be faced with that level of suffering that Revelation talks about because authority to harm and destroy is only been given over those who are non-believers. Life will be difficult in that day, but life with God will always be better. Cling to the Lord and fear to not be in relationship with God. This will make all the difference.
I see a lot of irony in this. If we look at society today, we see people who are trying to cling to life and youth. As people, we will go through a lot to preserve ourselves, even to the point of plastic surgery to preserve our looks. people tend to fear death and do whatever they can to avoid it. But the book of Revelation tells us that during the plagues, unsaved will seek death and not find it. There will be a complete attitude reversal. People will fear life (a life of pain) more than death. Today, many fear the unknown of death more than the known conditions of life, but then, they will fear the known conditions over the unknown. This leads me to believe that this will be a time of great suffering, probably beyond what many of us can imagine or have previously experienced.
As I think about this, I am grateful to be in relationship with God. Life may not always be easy, but it is better knowing that I don't face anything alone. God is present and working towards my good and God's glory. In knowing God and knowing that death will bring me face to face with God, I don't have to fear the unknown, because I love the one who created it and God is good. And I can live, knowing that I will not be faced with that level of suffering that Revelation talks about because authority to harm and destroy is only been given over those who are non-believers. Life will be difficult in that day, but life with God will always be better. Cling to the Lord and fear to not be in relationship with God. This will make all the difference.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Revelation 8 - Prayer
"3 Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out."
I just love this image of our prayers as an offering to God. As I read this, I was reminded that our prayers which include our hopes and dreams, our deepest sufferings and our greatest joys, are a piece of us and as they are being offered up to the Lord as an offering, so too are we. I think it is important to remember that each day as you pray. Our prayers are not just words, and we shouldn't allow them to become that for us. They are our deepest thoughts and hopes. We should be invested in those prayers and offering them in faith that God does receive them and with the assurance that our prayers will receive a response.
What do you do to make sure that your prayers are personal and a piece of yourself, given to God? One of the things that can make prayers special for me is to mix them with music. This combined prayer and music worship seems to help me become more personal and deeper with the Lord. For me, I allow the words of a song to start my journey and bring me to a place of connection and they become a jumping off point for my more specific prayers. Possibly because I am so effected by music, it is easy for my to feel that God will be effected by my prayers when I combine the too. I don't really know and I am sure that the form of our prayers in not important to God, but I guess sometimes it can be important to us.
So what about you, I would love to here what helps make your prayers deep and personal?
I just love this image of our prayers as an offering to God. As I read this, I was reminded that our prayers which include our hopes and dreams, our deepest sufferings and our greatest joys, are a piece of us and as they are being offered up to the Lord as an offering, so too are we. I think it is important to remember that each day as you pray. Our prayers are not just words, and we shouldn't allow them to become that for us. They are our deepest thoughts and hopes. We should be invested in those prayers and offering them in faith that God does receive them and with the assurance that our prayers will receive a response.
What do you do to make sure that your prayers are personal and a piece of yourself, given to God? One of the things that can make prayers special for me is to mix them with music. This combined prayer and music worship seems to help me become more personal and deeper with the Lord. For me, I allow the words of a song to start my journey and bring me to a place of connection and they become a jumping off point for my more specific prayers. Possibly because I am so effected by music, it is easy for my to feel that God will be effected by my prayers when I combine the too. I don't really know and I am sure that the form of our prayers in not important to God, but I guess sometimes it can be important to us.
So what about you, I would love to here what helps make your prayers deep and personal?
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Revelation 7 - Hope
After yesterday's chapter which foretold of the impending suffering the world would suffer, chapter 7 is a wonderful one to read. We hear about the 144,000 who have been marked with the seal of God. While we could take this number literally, I believe that it is symbolic. First, this number is split among the twelve tribes of Israel. This reminds me that all of those that God has chosen and called children, are represented in those that are sealed. God chose to work through the Israelite nation and when those of us who are gentiles, come to know Christ, I believe we become spiritual Israelites. Therefore, I see gentiles as being included in this 144,000 sealed believers.
The other thing I notice about this number is how large it is. I keep reminding myself that in today's world, where there are more people currently alive than have ever lived, we see numbers like 144,000 and they don't seem as large as they would have in a world with less people. When you consider that the ancient Roman Colosseum would hold about 45,000, we are looking at a number that is more than double the largest gatherings of that time. A number that would feel extremely huge and uncountable. And in fact, after referring to this group as 144,000, verse 9 says, "I saw a vast crowd, too great to count..." Beyond those that are sealed, we find this other group that has been cleansed and represents those who have died in the tribulation.
The bottom line is, this chapter speaks of those who will be sealed and those who be cleansed in the tribulation and stand in front of the throne of heaven. While things may get grim during this time, those who remain faithful will be taken under God's wing.
The other thing I notice about this number is how large it is. I keep reminding myself that in today's world, where there are more people currently alive than have ever lived, we see numbers like 144,000 and they don't seem as large as they would have in a world with less people. When you consider that the ancient Roman Colosseum would hold about 45,000, we are looking at a number that is more than double the largest gatherings of that time. A number that would feel extremely huge and uncountable. And in fact, after referring to this group as 144,000, verse 9 says, "I saw a vast crowd, too great to count..." Beyond those that are sealed, we find this other group that has been cleansed and represents those who have died in the tribulation.
The bottom line is, this chapter speaks of those who will be sealed and those who be cleansed in the tribulation and stand in front of the throne of heaven. While things may get grim during this time, those who remain faithful will be taken under God's wing.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Revelation 6 - White Horseman
This chapter is an example of why I was hesitant to blog on the book of Revelations. We see here four horsemen that come with the opening of the four seals. The first is the one I find most interesting...the white horseman. The other three are clearly bringing war, famine, and death, but this first horseman brings conquest. First, I note that he travels on a white horse, white being a color typically associated with good. But how could we have one good horseman and three bad horsemen? Therefore, we have to conclude that this horseman is also bringing bad things and is a deceiver. Who this horseman is and what he brings may look good, but will not be. From that perspective, we can then see that this horseman is a leader who will bring conquest to the world, that may appear to be for benefit, but will turn out to be for the destruction of all peoples.
So, what does this have to do with me today? What should I take away from this? That is a great question. I certainly spent some time wrestling with that this morning. The obvious is that we need to be forewarned as to what is coming and watchful, but I certainly always like to understand something more tangible, that I can really roll around in my mind. So what is it, you ask? Well...why do you think I am rambling on so...I am still trying to figure it out for myself.
Maybe we need to examine the idea of conquest and look at history to see the results of conquest. It certainly has brought on times of destruction and suffering. We really can't claim that we are at our best as a species when we are in conquest mode. I think of the crusades as a time when conquest appeared to be for good (spreading the gospel message), and yet it was fraught with evil intentions.
Possibly we are supposed to understand that we need to look at the heart, or the fruit of people/events/ideas around us. How often does the fruit look good, but when you bite into it, is has rot inside. Maybe we even need to examine ourselves and see if we are presenting a pure outside when in actuality, we have hidden sins that we are not dealing with. Maybe we need to determine if we, too, share traits with the first horseman and make changes within ourselves.
Maybe all these ideas are a stretch and we just need to focus on the warning and understanding of the future this passage provides. What do you think? I would certainly love to hear your ideas!
So, what does this have to do with me today? What should I take away from this? That is a great question. I certainly spent some time wrestling with that this morning. The obvious is that we need to be forewarned as to what is coming and watchful, but I certainly always like to understand something more tangible, that I can really roll around in my mind. So what is it, you ask? Well...why do you think I am rambling on so...I am still trying to figure it out for myself.
Maybe we need to examine the idea of conquest and look at history to see the results of conquest. It certainly has brought on times of destruction and suffering. We really can't claim that we are at our best as a species when we are in conquest mode. I think of the crusades as a time when conquest appeared to be for good (spreading the gospel message), and yet it was fraught with evil intentions.
Possibly we are supposed to understand that we need to look at the heart, or the fruit of people/events/ideas around us. How often does the fruit look good, but when you bite into it, is has rot inside. Maybe we even need to examine ourselves and see if we are presenting a pure outside when in actuality, we have hidden sins that we are not dealing with. Maybe we need to determine if we, too, share traits with the first horseman and make changes within ourselves.
Maybe all these ideas are a stretch and we just need to focus on the warning and understanding of the future this passage provides. What do you think? I would certainly love to hear your ideas!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Revelation 5 - Worthiness
Who is worthy to open the scroll? cried the angel. Well, none were found worthy but the Lion of Judah. And what made Jesus worthy? We see in the hymns sung by the four beings and the twenty-four elders, “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.” (verses 9 & 10).
Jesus' worthiness to open the scroll stems from His sacrifice for all of humanity, which made them like priests and able to go directly to God and be in relationship with the Lord. By taking on our sin, Jesus made us clean, while he became a vessel for all our sin.
When we consider this act, and what it means, we too will find Jesus worthy. We know that sin causes separation from God and in our state of sin, we cannot be in direct relationship with God. In the Old Testament, the priesthood was established to develop a relationship between God and the nation of Israel. The priest went through many rituals and ceremonies to become clean in order to interact with God. It was only once a year that the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies and be in the presence of God and this was only after a great deal of purifying and cleansing rituals.
Through Jesus' sacrifice. all those who accept the gift he offers are considered clean and able to interact with God on a daily basis. For a moment, consider what it would be like to not be able to talk to God the way we do and hear from the Lord without going through an intermediary. If I were to remove that relationship from my life, it would never be the same. I would feel an emptiness and a great deal of sadness. Now granted, I would not have experienced it ever without Jesus' sacrifice, but imagine always having a place in you that was never whole and was always crying out for something that it could never have. Would you want to live that way?
Maybe we experienced that before we developed a relationship with God or maybe we only understood we were that way after we developed a relationship with God, but I would never want to go back there. Since I developed a relationship with God, things have never been the same. Not always easy, but always better.
And for that, Jesus IS worthy!
P.S. I apologize for the the lack of reflection yesterday, I was without Internet until late in the day, and I must confess that by that point, I let the business of my life distract me from going back and sharing my reflection on the Word. Please forgive me.
Jesus' worthiness to open the scroll stems from His sacrifice for all of humanity, which made them like priests and able to go directly to God and be in relationship with the Lord. By taking on our sin, Jesus made us clean, while he became a vessel for all our sin.
When we consider this act, and what it means, we too will find Jesus worthy. We know that sin causes separation from God and in our state of sin, we cannot be in direct relationship with God. In the Old Testament, the priesthood was established to develop a relationship between God and the nation of Israel. The priest went through many rituals and ceremonies to become clean in order to interact with God. It was only once a year that the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies and be in the presence of God and this was only after a great deal of purifying and cleansing rituals.
Through Jesus' sacrifice. all those who accept the gift he offers are considered clean and able to interact with God on a daily basis. For a moment, consider what it would be like to not be able to talk to God the way we do and hear from the Lord without going through an intermediary. If I were to remove that relationship from my life, it would never be the same. I would feel an emptiness and a great deal of sadness. Now granted, I would not have experienced it ever without Jesus' sacrifice, but imagine always having a place in you that was never whole and was always crying out for something that it could never have. Would you want to live that way?
Maybe we experienced that before we developed a relationship with God or maybe we only understood we were that way after we developed a relationship with God, but I would never want to go back there. Since I developed a relationship with God, things have never been the same. Not always easy, but always better.
And for that, Jesus IS worthy!
P.S. I apologize for the the lack of reflection yesterday, I was without Internet until late in the day, and I must confess that by that point, I let the business of my life distract me from going back and sharing my reflection on the Word. Please forgive me.
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