The Way of The Creator

 Right after the beginning, human creatures went their own way. We opted to define good and evil for ourselves rather than as our Creator defines them. It was our original sin.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:18 NET

The way of Jesus is different. The Holy Spirit acted to bring Yahweh into the world, again, only now through the means every other human creature entered it. It was a difficult task. As Paul put it to the Philippians:

You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
who though he existed in the form of God
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
but emptied himself
by taking on the form of a slave,
by looking like other men,
and by sharing in human nature.
Philippians 2:5-7 NET (emphasis mine)

The Greek word, keno-o (Strong’s G2758) is both one of the strangest and most profound events of the Christmas story. This story is full of reversals, from Mary being chosen as mother to a king, to the animal feeding trough for a cradle. The story in Luke has many. Here’s a set of reversals from Matthew:

Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately. When he had contemplated this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:19-21 NET

Joseph is righteous, so he attempts to save Mary from an inevitable death penalty for adultery. But before he can act on this, a messenger from Yahweh delivers a message with the following features:

• ·    Joseph, son of David
• ·    What has happened to Mary is from the Holy Spirit
• ·    Take her as your wife without fear
• ·    She will have a son who you are to name Jesus
• ·    He will save his people from their sins

Think through that list for a moment. “Joseph, son of David” your son will save his people from their sins, not the Romans. Yes, he will be in the line of David and inherit his throne (Luke 1:32), but his purpose will be to save his people from their sins.

At the time, the people of Judea and Galilee, the Jews of the region, thought only of the Roman occupation as their greatest problem. The religious leaders were proud and arrogant. The people were harassed and confused. The political leaders were corrupt and thoughtless. And Rome only wanted peace and taxes. And yet, not one of these things were their greatest problem.

Think about your life, your day, today. Do your problems resemble any of the above problems? Do any of them occupy your thoughts and attention, your time and energy more than anything else? Perhaps your occupation or your family take more of you than any of these other things.

Our sin is when we act on our own set of beliefs about good and evil. Our failure is our refusal to rely on our Creator for those definitions, beliefs, priorities, and purposes. How much of your life distracts you from your Savior’s definitions?

Jesus has come to save us from that. And yet, like John puts it:

He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name —he has given the right to become God’s children —children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.
John 1:10-13 NET

Will we receive Him this Christmas?

And then, after, will we continue to pursue Him, all day, every day, forever. We want the blessings, but are we willing to pursue Him to get them, all of them?

Avoid the distractions and pursue Jesus because literally, nothing else matters.

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Offer Joy this Advent (12/18/25)

This week, our family devotional time concluded with joyfully singing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!”

I associate this carol with joy, and it fits perfectly with the focus on joy this third week of Advent. Jesus came to offer us eternal joy, surpassing any fleeting earthly happiness. He came to reconcile sinners, extend His righteousness and give us eternal life.

Some of the lyrics in “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” seem to be inspired by the following passage:

Luke 2:9-14     ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The angels announced good news that would bring immense joy – a Savior had been born! As we navigate this Christmas season, how can we extend that joy in Christ to those around us?

The next time we hear “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” let’s reflect on the significance of the lyrics - the joy Jesus offers – and sincerely give Him glory as we sing!

Forgiving Old Grievances

There is a sense in which our Savior holds grudges. It’s always confused me why certain people groups hold grudges from previous generations, sometimes hundreds of years. It’s not just Asia or Eastern Europe or Ireland; it’s West Virginia for Pete’s sake. What’s wrong with us?

In Deuteronomy, we have this directive from Yahweh to the people through Moses:

No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD; to the tenth generation none of their descendants shall ever do so, for they did not meet you with food and water on the way as you came from Egypt, and furthermore, they hired Balaam son of Beor of Pethor in Aram Naharaim to curse you. But the LORD your God refused to listen to Balaam and changed the curse to a blessing, for the LORD your God loves you. You must not seek peace and prosperity for them through all the ages to come. 

Deuteronomy 23:3-6 NET

The story of this offense is in Numbers 22 and 25. It’s a long story, but there’s a talking donkey, so I highly recommend it, although it’s kind of confusing. Anyway, Moab=bad in Yahweh’s eyes, so don’t go there, befriend them, or help them in any way…

During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land of Judah. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with his wife and two sons. (Now the man’s name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were of the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah.) They entered the region of Moab and settled there. Sometime later Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, so she and her two sons were left alone. Both her sons married Moabite women. (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.) And they continued to live there about ten years. Then Naomi’s two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, also died. So the woman was left all alone—bereaved of her two children as well as her husband! 

Ruth 1:1-5 NET

Well, clearly, this cannot end well. Yahweh cannot possibly accept this, in fact isn’t obvious that He’s punishing this family for going to Moab? What did they think would happen? And yet, this sets up one of the most beautiful stories in Scripture. 

Our Creator makes rules. He seems so stern and harsh at times. And yet, after making such a thoroughly imprecatory rule, we have an entire book, one of the most elegant, named for a Moabite woman…MOABITE and a WOMAN! Rahab got a good story, a few chapters of Joshua, but Ruth get’s a whole book. Actually, Ruth gets much more than a whole book.

So Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law back home!” But Ruth replied,

“Stop urging me to abandon you!

For wherever you go, I will go.

Wherever you live, I will live.

Your people will become my people,

and your God will become my God.

Wherever you die, I will die—and there I will be buried.

May the LORD punish me severely if I do not keep my promise!

Only death will be able to separate me from you!”

When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to dissuade her. 

Ruth 1:15-18 NET

This is read at weddings to describe the devotion and commitment between spouses. Yet it is actually the devotion of a woman to her mother-in-law through a deceased husband. By any law of any culture, any obligation between Ruth and Naomi is over. And yet it’s not.

Long, beautiful story, short; girl meets boy, boy falls in love with girl, family inheritance problems arise, boy overcomes them with a sandal, and marries the girl.

But here’s the kicker:

So Boaz married Ruth and slept with her. The LORD enabled her to conceive and she gave birth to a son. 

Ruth 4:13 NET

Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap; she became his caregiver. The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. Now he became the father of Jesse—David’s father. 

Ruth 4:16-17 NET

But wait, there’s more!

This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew 1:1 NET

Salmon the father of Boaz (by Rahab), Boaz the father of Obed (by Ruth), Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. 

Matthew 1:5-6 NET

So, Yahweh broke His own rules on the pathway to save His human creatures through Jesus. For Jesus, forgiveness was literally in His genes.

Grace to the Embarrassing

I have not posted to this blog in a very long time, and I apologize for that. Now, my last day with Thomson Reuters is January 2, so this has become my only means of sharing with my colleagues still at TR. My intent is to post here and on my personal blog. I hope these bless you. 

Family history can be fun, or, depending on who’s in it, embarrassing. Did you have someone to be proud of or ashamed of in your genealogy? Mine is a mess of both. No sense being embarrassed, ashamed, proud or confused. I have Zachary Taylor and the Martin clan (West Virginia feuds) in mine. All distant, all confusing, and not sure which is important.

For some cultures, ancestry is crucial. In some it’s important. There are probably some who don’t care, honestly, but I don’t know of any. For the Jews, knowing which tribe you came from was important. Knowing your Levitical lineage was important. It became more and more difficult over time, but even in Jesus’ day, it was a major part of their lives.

Which makes Jesus’ genealogies in Matthew and Luke very interesting. As was said before, purpose drove who was on it and where they started. Matthew and Luke both include the same names from Abraham to David, but it is interesting who Matthew notes in addition.

This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah (by Tamar), Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz (by Rahab), Boaz the father of Obed (by Ruth), Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.
Matthew 1:1-6 NET

This translation notes the additions in parentheses. Obviously Matthew doesn’t call out all the various mothers, only the ones where there’s an interesting story in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Tamar was having trouble with the “levirate marriage” rule and finally deceived the father of her former husbands into having a child with her. Rahab was the Canaanite “prostitute” who betrayed Jericho into the hands of Yahweh’s people. Ruth was the Moabitess who should never have been accepted by the people of God, not for ten generations.

Tamar’s story is found in Genesis stuck in between two parts of the story of Jospeh. It kind of…makes everyone look bad, so let’s jump to Rahab.

Rahab has “the prostitute” as her last name throughout English translations of Scripture. There’s a lack of clarity about her “role” as the labels are…not precise, a common problem when the topic is indelicate, inappropriate, or embarrassing.

First, let’s look at what she did. When the spies are sent out by Joshua (Joshua 2:1), they enter Jericho and stay with Rahab. When the king is informed that he has spies in the city, he immediately goes to Rahab. Rahab tells the king that, yes, the men came, but they left immediately and he can still catch them before they cross the Jordan. She has hidden them on her roof.

But why? Why lie to her king? Why betray her city? Why help the enemy of her people? But even more important, why be faithless to her gods? Well, let’s look at what she says.

Now before the spies went to sleep, Rahab went up to the roof. She said to the men, “I know the LORD is handing this land over to you. We are absolutely terrified of you, and all who live in the land are cringing before you. For we heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt and how you annihilated the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, on the other side of the Jordan. When we heard the news we lost our courage and no one could even breathe for fear of you. For the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below! Joshua 2:8-11 NET

The adventures of the Israelites made it into the local papers in Jericho. Even more, Yahweh made it into the local papers all over Canaan. From the crossing of the Red Sea forty years ago, to the defeat of the local kings across the Jordan just recently, word was getting out.

Look carefully at what Rahab says about Yahweh. Yahweh is Elohim. That is the confession of faith of the Hebrew Scriptures. That confession is an expensive confession of faith. It rejects Rahab’s culture, her people, her city, everything she has known to this point.

She has looked at what is happening in the world around her, just like everyone around her, and made the decision to leap into what Yahweh is doing. The rest of her people resist what they see Yahweh doing to threaten their culture. She repents; they do not. And that makes all the difference.

Prostitute, innkeeper, or whatever, embarrassing, inappropriate, or shameful, it doesn’t matter. Yahweh accepts this confession of faith from this Canaanite woman and uses her to fulfill the promises He made to Abraham. She becomes part of His salvation of all humanity, warts and all.

Now seriously, what is holding you back? This world, our cultures, successes, failures, families, or friends; what can hold you back from your confession of faith in the Creator of the universe? Are you really that successful? Have you truly made that many mistakes or are they that significant? Why not influence your friends rather than the other way around? Why not become the catalyst for your whole family coming to faith?

Make the leap. Take the step. Drop the luggage and jump into His arms.

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Offer Hope this Advent (12/4/25)

As we enter the Advent season, which literally means "coming," we're reminded that this time of year is all about preparing to celebrate Jesus's arrival on earth. Our church is focusing on passages from Isaiah that speak to both Jesus's first coming and His second coming. This week, with Hope as our theme, we reflected on the hope that Jesus's first coming brought, particularly through His death on the cross, which paid the price for our sins.

This hope not only brings forgiveness but also gives us Jesus's righteousness, allowing us to join Him in Heaven for eternity when He returns.

On Sunday evening, as we enjoyed dinner together, we delved deeper into the concept of Jesus's Hope and lit our own Advent candle (part of a wreath my Mom gave us years ago to help us worship). We read passages from Matthew and Isaiah, including:

Isaiah 9:2    The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.

As we discussed ways to share the light of Jesus with others and offer them hope, Alexis suggested that we could share the gospel with those around us. In God’s perfect timing, my niece and nephew were having a similar conversation about the gospel with their mom (my sister) on the other side of town. They blurted out that they needed to pray and ask Jesus to come into their lives. So, they made the decision to receive Him as their Lord and Savior!!! We all praised God when we heard the wonderful news!

The kids’ Bible study memory verse for this week was:

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

My niece and nephew’s decision to confess their sins and invite Jesus into their hearts is a powerful reminder of the gift of Hope Jesus offers. They can now look forward to the day when they will be completely purified in Heaven.

Who do you know that needs the Hope of Jesus this Advent Season? Will you pray for opportunities to share Jesus with them?

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy of Undistracted Worship (11/20/25)

How would you define worship of Jesus and what does your worship look like?

In our family Bible study time last night, we discussed what worship of God includes and whether all prayers are worship or only those prayers where we are praising God for His attributes. I said God always wants to hear from His children, but some of our prayers are often selfish. Sarah asked if her prayers for help on her school work were selfish. I said partially, because we often want help first for ourselves and then for God’s glory. God wants to help us accomplish the things He has purposed for us to do (such as school and work). So, our prayers for help can be worshipful if we truly desire the help so we can honor God and bring Him glory.

Later last night, Sarah stayed up to finish some math homework, and I sat beside her, reading Kent’s devotional from earlier in the day. I shared some of his devotional with Sarah, as his discussion about the difference between asking God to improve our situation versus asking God to transform our hearts tied right in with our earlier discussion during family Bible study! How often we get distracted, though, and aren’t living life with the purpose of worshipping God.  

If we aren’t living life worshipping God, then we are distracted by the world. However, the world can’t eternally satisfy and will come to an end, as Revelation describes.

Revelation 18:1-8 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. ² With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
³ For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

⁴ Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
⁵ for her sins are piled up to heaven,
    and God has remembered her crimes.
⁶ Give back to her as she has given;
    pay her back double for what she has done.
    Pour her a double portion from her own cup.
⁷ Give her as much torment and grief
    as the glory and luxury she gave herself.
In her heart she boasts,
    ‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;
    I will never mourn.’
⁸ Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:
    death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,
    for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

The world, Babylon the Great Prostitute (as we saw in Revelation 17), all those opposed to God and His ways will be consumed by fire. God’s judgment will fall.

As verse 4 calls, where do you and I need to come out of Babylon? What is distracting us from true worship of Jesus? I pray you and I will desire to live a life that is worshipful to God and undistracted by the shallow and temporal lures of the world. Jesus is worthy of undistracted worship.  

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy as Lord of lords (11/13/25)

In a former job, I knew someone who buttered up a co-worker, manipulated them to bend over backwards for them, gave them rave reviews, promoted them, but then left them hanging out to dry. Ultimately, it led to the burnout of a great worker. On a grander scale, the beast will do the same with the woman (Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes from 17:5) and the ten horns.

Last week we saw how the woman delighted in the destruction of God’s people while luring everyone else astray. The beast will use the woman until he has no more use for her. Then, he will bring her to ruin as she brought people and nations to ruin. The ten horns (or rulers) will work for and submit to the beast, destroying people and nations, until they themselves will be destroyed.

Revelation 17:15-18 ¹⁵ Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. ¹⁶ The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. ¹⁷ For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled. ¹⁸ The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Evil rulers exploit, abuse and destroy those who follow them. In stark contrast, Jesus does the opposite. He shares His victory, inheritance and royal status with His faithful followers. As we read last week…

Revelation 17:14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords and extends that privilege to His people! We don’t serve someone who will take advantage of us and then discard us. We serve the One who doesn’t need us, but chooses to work through us. He doesn’t use us to gain success; instead, He gives us the success He’s already accomplished. So, why wouldn’t we want to faithfully follow the One who has our best interests at heart? What or who can offer us a better promise than Jesus? I pray that in our daily choices, you and I remember that no one offers better promises than Jesus, the eternal Lord of lords.

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy as King of Kings (11/6/25)

Last week, we saw how “Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes” delighted in the destruction of God’s people and lured the rest of the world into abominable acts. She represents centuries of evil powers in the world. She and the beast will deceive many, but not those whose names have been written in the book of life – those who are faithful to Jesus, the true King of kings.

Revelation 17:6-14 ⁶ I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. ⁷ Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. ⁸ The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

⁹ “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. ¹⁰ They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. ¹¹ The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

¹² “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. ¹³ They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴ They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

As believers, we are called to be wise and discerning, so we won’t be deceived by the woman (Babylon the Great) or the beast king. We gain this wisdom by daily studying and apply God’s truths from His Word.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

I want to have a mind with God’s wisdom so I can faithfully follow Jesus, the triumphant Lamb who is Lord of lords and King of kings! He will rule for all eternity, while the woman and beast will go to eternal destruction.

How are you preparing now to remain faithful to Jesus and not be deceived by the things of this world?

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy of Our Blood (10/30/25)

This past Monday, our kids had a day off from school, and we finally had a chance to take them all in for routine blood work. Let’s just say they weren’t thrilled! One of them was especially nervous about the needle and watching the blood flow out. What if someone were to drain not just a little blood but all your blood? Revelation chapter 17 talks about that!

In Revelation chapter 16, John concluded his vision with the seven-sealed scroll, seven angels, seven trumpets and seven bowl judgments. Chapter 17 takes John to a new vision, which seems to layer similar truths from the previous vision – wickedness in the world continues, Satan covers sin in luring appeal to deceive many, God’s people can expect oppression and even death, yet all false detractors will face God’s judgment.

Revelation 17:1-6 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. ² With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”

³ Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. ⁴ The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. ⁵ The name written on her forehead was a mystery:

babylon the great

the mother of prostitutes

and of the abominations of the earth.

⁶ I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

The ancient nation of Babylon took Judah into captivity and destroyed the Jerusalem temple in 586 BC. Since then, “Babylon” has often been used as a term to refer to staunch enemies of God and His people. Babylon will fall, facing not just earthly destruction but eternal punishment.

As we reflect on this passage, we can ponder some important questions: What things in this world lure you and me away from the things of God? What’s your “Babylon,” and what’s mine?

I think most of us don’t want to be matyrs, but I pray we will all be faithful to Jesus to the very end, no matter what. He shed his blood for you and me so we could have eternal life! So, He’s worthy of our total devotion, whether it’s sacrificing a small comfort or giving our earthly blood. Where will you choose faithfulness to Jesus today? We can pray and ask for God’s strength to turn from temptation and remain faithful.

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Finish Judgment (10/23/25)

What’s the largest hail you’ve ever seen? I've witnessed some impressive hailstorms in my time, but the largest hail was about 4 inches in diameter. The 1995 Mayfest Storm in Ft. Worth, TX, with similarly sized hail, left a lasting impact on my car – literally. The hailstones, which weighed about 1 pound each, may not have seemed heavy, but they cratered plenty of dents with their force. In fact, I saw some of the damage to the rubber seals daily for the 17 years I had the Tempo.

The Bible, however, paints a far more intense picture of the end. In Revelation, we read about extreme earthquakes and hailstones that weigh 100 pounds for the final judgment on earth.

Revelation 16:17-21 ¹⁷ The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” ¹⁸ Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. ¹⁹ The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. ²⁰ Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. ²¹ From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.

Again, I love how God is still gracious, even to the last moment. He doesn’t zap everyone, but as these plagues are unleashed, people have opportunities to repent, turn to God and submit to His will. However, most will use their last breath to curse God rather than humbly call out to Him.

This 7^th bowl of wrath from the seventh angel completes God’s wrath, as proclaimed in Revelation 15.1 (I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.) The voice from heaven also announced “It is done!” (Rev 16:17). Jesus’s last words on the cross come to mind – “It is finished” (John 19:30). Jesus completed the work of paying for our sin. In contrast, the bowl judgments in Revelation bring about the end to earthly judgment.

In thinking about the end, how do you want to use your last breath? Cursing God or claiming Him? If you have accepted and value Jesus’s completed work on the cross to pay for your sins, then you can look forward to claiming Him and enjoying His blessings for all eternity!

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Clothe in Righteousness (10/16/25)

Do you lay out your clothes the night before? I often remind our kids to lay out their clothes the night before so they are ready to get dressed quickly in the morning. However, Edmund couldn’t find his favorite pair of shorts last night. He wanted to lay them out to wear for today, but he couldn’t find them in his closet, drawer, hanging up in the basement on his clothesline, or in the basket of dirty clothes. He had to settle for a different pair.

As Christians, we’re commanded to remain “dressed” and ready for Jesus’s return, which could happen at any moment. By staying close to Jesus and His Word, we won’t be caught off guard, unprepared, or deceived by Satan and his spirits. In contrast, the rulers at the end of the world will be arrogantly deceived by Satan, foolishly gathering for battle against God.

Revelation 16:12-16  ¹² The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. ¹³ Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. ¹⁴ They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.

¹⁵ “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

¹⁶ Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

The blessed in verse 15 have repented and remained faithful to God. They are clothed in Jesus’s robes of righteousness. We can’t earn our place in heaven before a Holy God, but we can accept Jesus’ sacrifice in our place and His garments of salvation.

Isaiah 61:10   I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Have we humbly accepted Jesus’ robe of righteousness, so God sees us as He sees Jesus? Or, do we arrogantly think we can outsmart God, like the kings gathering for a doomed battle against God Almighty?

Instead of fighting against God, we can enjoy Jesus’ victory over Satan through accepting His salvation via the cross. Jesus has laid out His righteous clothes for us, so we are ready to be clothed for the New Day when He takes us to Heaven.  

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Give Access to God (10/9/25)

When my kids are caught doing something wrong, they usually respond in one of two ways – in anger towards us for catching them or in tearful grief over their sin. People respond similarly to God, as we will see in this week’s passage.

Last week, we explored the first 3 angels pour out their plagues from God’s bowls of wrath. This week, we’ll examine the next 2 angels and plagues. Once again, God offers opportunities for people to repent. Notice how they react.

Revelation 16:8-11   ⁸ The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. ⁹ They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.

¹⁰ The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony ¹¹ and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.

It surprises me to see people continue to rebel against God, curse him and fail to recognize their rightful place before a Holy God. The only right response is sincere repentance. How do you and I respond to conviction of sin? With grief that leads to repentance?

II Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Are you continuing in defiance against God, like the people in Revelation 16, or have you humbly submitted to the Holy God who has all authority? If the latter, then you have personal access to God through Jesus and eternal salvation!

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy as Holy in Judgment (10/2/25)

 Last night, James came home from gymnastics upset about the bullies who had called him names and pushed him around. It’s natural to want justice to be served immediately in situations like these! We often desire swift judgment for others while pleading for grace and mercy for ourselves.

God will bring perfect justice in His own time. As we saw last week, God’s glory and power completely filled the temple as He sent out the seven angels with the seven plagues in the seven golden bowls of His wrath to finish His judgment on the earth. He doesn’t dump all His judgment at once. One angel pours out a bowl of wrath, followed by another. God could certainly pour out His wrath all at once and be done with it, but He doesn’t. Instead, He continues to give people opportunities to repent and turn to Him.

Revelation 16:1-7    Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”

2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.

4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:

“You are just in these judgments, O Holy One,
    you who are and who were;
6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,
    and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”

7 And I heard the altar respond:

“Yes, Lord God Almighty,
    true and just are your judgments.”

I find it interesting that in previous passages in Revelation, Jesus, the Holy One, was referred to as the one “who is, and who was, and who is to come” (Revelation 1:8, 4:8, etc.) However, in this passage, the last phrase is omitted, as Jesus has returned by this point. This change implies that there will be no more waiting on the part of His people when He brings final judgment.

We can trust in God’s Holy, true, just and complete judgment, knowing that it will come at the perfect time. With what situation do you and I need to leave to Jesus, for His holy justice? What areas of our lives require us to trust in His timing and judgment, rather than seeking immediate justice or resolution? 

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Await Meeting (9/25/25)

Monday, Matt’s devotional reflected on Jonah’s frustration with our compassionate God whom he knows is gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. This merciful God gives numerous warnings, having provided over 2,000 years of warning about the final judgment. A day will come when He pours out all His wrath and completes judgment on sinful humanity.

Revelation 15:5-8    ⁵ After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened. ⁶ Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. ⁷ Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. ⁸ And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

As a holy and just God, He must punish sin. Yet, He is also compassionate and gracious, offering people ample opportunities to repent before it’s too late. The number seven, symbolizing completeness, appears here again in Revelation, signifying the thorough and complete judgment that will take place. This event is so significant that no one will be able to enter the temple until all seven plagues from the seven bowls of God’s wrath have been emptied.

In the chapters that follow, we will see God’s people rejoicing and feasting with Him at the wedding feast of Jesus. No more tears. Everything will be made new. Jesus awaits His followers on the other side.

Are you and I ready to meet Jesus face-to-face today? What about those around us? How can we be used to help those around us prepare to meet Jesus?

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy of Marvelous Worship (9/18/25)

Alexis and Edmund’s music teacher ordered kazoos for their class. Edmund’s excitement had been building for weeks. The kazoos finally arrived, and he couldn’t wait to show me!

God has a more extraordinary instrument gift in store – one that far surpasses a simple kazoo. He has prepared a magnificent reward for His class of victorious martyrs: personal harps to accompany their glorious songs in a majestic place.

Revelation 15:1-4    I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. ² And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God ³ and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
    Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
    King of the nations.
⁴ Who will not fear you, Lord,
    and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
    and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

As John was about to witness the release of the seven last plagues by the seven angels, God interjected a glimpse of glorious events in heaven. This contrast serves as a reminder that we don’t need to fear plagues or death, for the blessings in heaven will be truly marvelous. The greatest joy we’ve experienced on earth celebrating a team victory or achievement will pale in comparison to the joy celebrating Jesus’s victory over Satan, the beast, and all sin in the world. One day, ALL nations will worship Jesus. Why not begin our worship today?

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Harvest Grain and Grapes (9/11/25)

The other day, my kids were marveling at the various cloud shapes. One of them blurted out that they wanted to sit on a cloud. I chuckled and said it wouldn’t work very well, as they would fall right through! Well, Jesus will sit on a cloud - without falling through - before He harvests the earth.

Revelation 14:14-20 ¹⁴ I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. ¹⁵ Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” ¹⁶ So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

¹⁷ Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. ¹⁸ Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” ¹⁹ The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. ²⁰ They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.

This final harvest marks the end of the world and the judgment of all people. Jesus, the son of man on the cloud with the sharp sickle, will harvest the earth and collect His children. He will separate the wheat from the weeds (Matthew 13:24-43). These redeemed children will join Him for eternal life in God’s perfect kingdom, the new Jerusalem.

In contrast, the angel with the sharp sickle will harvest the earth and collect the rebellious for eternal judgment. Grapes represent unbelievers or those who reject God and Jesus. They will be trampled and tormented outside the new Jerusalem. This torment in burning sulfur (Rev 14:10) will continue forever (Rev 14:11), as we read last week (also in Matthew 13:42).   

I’m grateful Jesus sees me as a grain (not a grape) as a redeemed child of His! We are either one or the other. I pray you have accepted Jesus’s redemption and are considered a child of His. If not, will you surrender your life to Jesus today?

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Offer Eternal Rest (9/4/25)

Yesterday, Kent discussed how Jesus offers not only physical rest but also spiritual rest. As I read his devotional last night and re-read our next passage in Revelation, I was struck by the final verse, which mentions rest from labor. In the United States, many of us celebrated Labor Day this past Monday and enjoyed a day off from work - a temporary “rest from our labor.”

Jesus promises His followers a far greater blessing: eternal rest from the struggles of this life, including hardship, persecution, rejection for speaking truth, and even death. In contrast, those who reject Jesus and refuse to fear God or give Him glory will experience eternal torment with no rest.

Revelation 14:6-13 ⁶ Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. ⁷ He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

⁸ A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

⁹ A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, ¹⁰ they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” ¹² This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

¹³ Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

As verse 7 warns, God’s judgment will come on those who do not worship Him as Creator. However, as verse 6 indicates, everyone will have the opportunity to hear the eternal gospel and respond. Those who respond in faith and patiently endure will receive His blessing and eternal rest.

What encouragement do you find in these truths? How does it motivate you to persevere in sharing God’s truths with others so they too can enjoy eternal rest?

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Redeem the 144,000 (8/28/25)

I'm cautious about letting my kids use permanent markers – after all, they're permanent! However, for their swim meets this summer, I made an exception, allowing them to use permanent markers to draw pictures on each other's backs (though not on their faces).

One day, we'll all have permanent writing on our faces, but it won't be from a marker. In contrast to the second beast in last week's passage, which required everyone to receive a mark (the name of the first beast) on their right hand or forehead, Jesus chooses to put His name on the foreheads of the redeemed.

Revelation 14:1-5 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. ² And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. ³ And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. ⁴ These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. ⁵ No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

You might recall the 144,000 from Revelation chapter 7, who were sealed by God on their foreheads before the final judgment. Some scholars interpret this number of 144,000 as symbolic, while others believe it's literal. There's debate about whether it refers specifically to Israelites who follow Christ in the last days or represents the broader body of believers across the ages – the Church, including Gentiles. Based on the passage in Revelation 14, it seems to me that the 144,000 might not represent all believers, as they're described as firstfruits. What's clear, however, is that Jesus is worthy of praise for His redemption of both the firstfruits and all who accept His redemption.

As we reflect on this, we're faced with a question: Whose name will you have on your forehead? Will you be claimed by Satan and the beast, or by God the Father and Jesus? The good news is that Jesus's redemption is permanent – His purchase with His shed blood on the cross was a one-time, definitive act for those who receive it.

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Offer Protective Wisdom (8/14/25)

I often pray for wisdom, whether it’s for efficiency at work, parenting decisions, writing devotionals, or daily activities. Yesterday, we received a clear answer to NOT do what we were planning to do – going bowling before dinner and a church event. When we arrived, there weren’t any available family lanes. So, we went home with a little more time for dinner. In God’s better plan, Edmund then spontaneously met some grandkids of a neighbor and enjoyed playing basketball with them.

Last week’s passage ended with a call for patient endurance and faithfulness. This week’s passage ends with a call for wisdom. We need perseverance and faithfulness to face Satan’s war against God’s people and his deception through the beast. We also need wisdom to see through the manipulation of the second beast. Notably, Satan (the Dragon), the first beast, and the second beast seem to imitate God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, as seen in the rest of Revelation chapter 13.

Revelation 13:11-18 ¹¹ Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. ¹² It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. ¹³ And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people.¹⁴ Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. ¹⁵ The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. ¹⁶ It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, ¹⁷ so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.

¹⁸ This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.

So, where do we get this wisdom? Perfect wisdom comes straight from God Himself! Reading His Word, talking with Him in prayer, and listening for His answers will help us gain wisdom.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Knowing God’s prophecy, like this passage in Revelation, will help us be prepared when these events happen. We will then be able to wisely discern the deception of Satan and remain faithful to God.