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 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 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 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 Reveal the Sweet and Sour (6/5/25)

 My kids have dared each other to eat a Warheads sour candy! I didn’t join in the “fun.” I tried one about 30 years ago and never want another one! Sarah can withstand the extreme sour taste long enough to eventually get to the sweet taste, but other kids can’t (and me neither!).

Similar to the Warheads, John ate a sweet and sour scroll.

Revelation 10:8-11           ⁸ Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”

⁹ So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’” ¹⁰ I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. ¹¹ Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

In reverse of the Warheads, John’s tasty scroll was first sweet and then sour. It may mean that the prophecy he was given to share includes sweet victory for Jesus’s followers, but bitter judgment for those who reject Jesus. The book of Revelation certainly includes both! Jesus gives John the good and bad news together. Which are you confident you will ultimately experience? Sweet victory in Jesus or sour separation from Him for all eternity?  

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy and Doesn’t Yo-Yo Us (5/29/25)

Have you ever been on a flight that had one delay after another? On one flight, I received over a dozen notifications about changes to the departure time. The estimated departure was often moved later, but some of the notifications indicated an earlier departure. I understand weather delays can’t be avoided and estimated maintenance times are hard to predict. It was stressful waiting, though, with the yo-yo time changes.

Jesus’s final judgment on all evil may seem delayed to us, but it will happen at the exact time and in the detailed way God prescribed. He won’t yo-yo on us. When the 7^th angel sounds the trumpet, He will finish the job.

Revelation 10:5-7   ⁵ Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. ⁶ And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! ⁷ But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”

God’s given us the Bible which is full of His plans. We don’t have to be in the dark about the future. We can know the “mystery” of God as we read and study His Word. He’s given us exactly what He knows we need to be adequately prepared.

Do you and I truly believe God created everything, cares for everything, and has a master plan? If so, how are we taking advantage of the resources He’s given to us to know His plans? We don’t need to be stressed out like on a delayed flight. The better we know God’s truths, the more we will experience peace while we wait. 

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Reveal and Hold Secrets (5/22/25)

Who likes to be in on secrets? My kids like to be in the know about gifts for their siblings. They especially enjoy being able to help pick out a gift. However, there are certain gifts no sibling knows about for the birthday kid until the birthday comes.

Similarly, through our study of Revelation, we get to be in on some of the secrets regarding the end of time, the new heaven and the new earth! Jesus hasn’t given us all the details, though. We won’t know or understand everything until our new life in heaven.

Before the 7^th angel sounded the trumpet, we receive an interesting interlude:

Revelation 10:1-4         Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. ² He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, ³ and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. ⁴ And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”

Jesus (through the 7 thunders or 7 spirits or the Holy Spirit) revealed a mystery to John that only he knows. Why can’t we know it? Maybe it is too awful regarding the final and complete judgment on the entire earth. Maybe it’s beyond our comprehension. Maybe it was specific to John.

Whatever the reason, it made me realize how privileged we are to know any of Jesus’s plans. It’s amazing Jesus chooses to reveal some details to us. We can appreciate the “secrets” we do know and diligently study the Bible to understand all that He has revealed.

What time will you and I set aside each day to learn more of Jesus’s “secrets” (by the Holy Spirit’s help)? Which “secret” will you and I share with others?

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Unleash the 6th Trumpet Judgment (5/15/25)

Our daughter, Sarah, lives and breathes horses and gets to ride horses 1-2 times per week. She is a petite girl and knows they are quite big and powerful. She has a healthy fear of them and knows to be careful moving around them. She is willing, though, to ride some of the horses that others are scared to try to ride. In fact, she was bucked off a less tame horse twice last week and yet got up and got back on!

As “wild” as Sarah’s ride was last week, it was nothing compared to the 2 million horses and their destruction after the sound of the 6^th trumpet!

Revelation 9:13-21 ¹³ The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. ¹⁴ It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” ¹⁵ And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. ¹⁶ The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.

¹⁷ The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. ¹⁸ A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. ¹⁹ The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.

²⁰ The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. ²¹ Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Jesus’s Sovereign patience is astounding! He could wipe everything out at once and be done with the wickedness in the world, but He graciously gives additional time. The 2/3 not killed had another opportunity to repent and turn to their Creator.

We may not be like these people who continue to refuse to repent. We may not intentionally worship idols or participate in sexual immorality, but are there things in our lives that take priority over God and His purposes for us? What areas of our lives are not totally surrendered to Jesus?

Like Sarah and horses, we are to have a healthy fear of God. He has the most powerful army of millions! He will win in the end! I want to be working for Him and not against Him. It ends terribly for those working against Him. Jesus is worthy of worship for all His power.

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Unleash the 5th Trumpet Judgment (5/8/25)

Now back to where we were in Revelation! We are in the middle of the 7 trumpet judgments. After Jesus opened the 7^th seal of the scroll and heaven stopped in silence for half an hour, then we saw the first 4 trumpet judgments unleashed on the earth. The next three are even more severe.

Rev 8:13-9:12 ¹³ As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”

The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. ² When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. ³ And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. ⁴ They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. ⁵ They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. ⁶ During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

⁷ The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. ⁸ Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. ⁹ They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. ¹⁰ They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. ¹¹ They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).

¹² The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.

This 5^th judgment is so severe that people seek death (vs 6). However, in God’s sovereignty, they will not be able to escape their pain through death. I think that is His grace. The people experiencing the pain might not think so, but He is giving them yet another chance to turn and respond to Him before they do die and it is too late.

God will also graciously spare those who have His seal on their forehead (see chapter 7 and the devotional from 3/20/25). Those with God’s seal will not experience this judgment like the people around them (vs. 4). What a gracious, detailed and Sovereign God we serve!

Jesus is not only worthy to open the scroll and unleash judgment, but He is worthy to withhold judgment from His sealed children! Are you one of His children? If so, how will you praise Him for His grace today?   

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Unleash the 7 Trumpets (4/24/25)

 I was on a short trip part of this week, so sorry this is a day late. Normally I write the devotional Wednesday night and post it Thursday morning, but this week I didn’t get to write it until yesterday.

Remember the complete silence in Heaven when the 7^th Seal was opened by the Lamb a couple weeks ago? Well, that 7^th seal ushered in 7 more judgments via 7 angels with 7 trumpets.

Revelation 8:6-12    ⁶ Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

⁷ The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

⁸ The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, ⁹ a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

¹⁰ The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— ¹¹ the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

¹² The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.

Jesus unleashes numerous catastrophic judgments on the earth in these first 4 “trumpet judgments.” A third of the ground, water and sky will all be affected. However, intentionally 2/3 will not be affected. Jesus’s judgments aren’t rash or impulsive. They are intentional and gracious. It isn’t random or coincidental. The orderliness in the judgment shows WHO is in charge. Jesus continues to give people a stark warning and additional opportunities to repent and turn to Him before it is too late.

As the Creator of all, His judgments point back to Him as the One in charge of all Creation. He is the One worthy of all worship. I have an easy reminder of that as I look outside. In Michigan this week, the spring colors suddenly popped. The daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, Magnolia trees, and Dogwood trees are all in bloom with yellow, red, purple, pink, and white scattered all over. Let’s praise Jesus as the Creator and sustainer of all! He is worthy of our worship as both Creator and Judge.  

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Open the 6th Seal (3/13/25)

Have you ever played Hide and Seek with small children? Often they hide in very visible and easy to find places! When our twins were about three I remember one time they sat next to each other and “hid” on the other side of our large living room chair. Since they couldn’t see me, they assumed I couldn’t see them!

Similarly, we can’t hide from God. Just because we can’t “see” Him doesn’t mean He can’t see us. He sees everything. At the end of time, when He releases His wrath, all kinds of people will try to hide from His wrath.

Revelation 6:12-17   ¹² I watched as he [the Lamb/Jesus] opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red,¹³ and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. ¹⁴ The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

¹⁵ Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. ¹⁶ They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! ¹⁷ For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”

No one can hide or escape from God. Death will not give relief to those experiencing God’s wrath. In fact, eternal death will be far worse. If those running and hiding from God would instead turn and run towards God, He would forgive them, even in the last moments of time.

When God’s judgment comes, will you be hiding in dread or resting secure in your relationship with God Almighty? Who do you and I know that even now seems to be trying to hide from God instead of running towards Him? What truths will you and I share with them?    

Jesus is worthy to open the 6^th seal and merciful to give people yet another opportunity to turn to Him rather than hide! 

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Open the 2nd-4th Seals (2/20/25)

Last week we saw Jesus open the 1^st seal that ushered in the first of four horses, the white horse. This week, the next 3 seals are opened, revealing the next 3 horses and judgments.

Revelation 6:3-8      ³ When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” ⁴ Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

⁵ When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. ⁶ Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

⁷ When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” ⁸ I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

These three horsemen are given power to take peace, provision and population from the earth. These events could happen concurrently or in succession, one after the other. As horrible as these judgments sound, it isn’t the final judgment. God is still giving time for people to repent. Not all resources are damaged or scarce. Not all people are killed. I see His patience, amid His judgments. Each seal or event could be seen as warning signs of worse judgment to come. God holds back the full force of His wrath and continues to give people additional opportunities to recognize God, repent of their sins, and turn to Him.

We’re all to acknowledge and submit to the fact that only Jesus is worthy before God. Have you and I taken the opportunities God has given to us to rightly respond to that fact and to heed His warnings? If so, we will be blessed!!! As the beginning of Revelation said (1:3) Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

One blessing is certainty knowing Jesus is worthy to open the 2^nd-4^th seals and He is in control of what comes from them!

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Open the First Seal (2/13/25)

A very loud “thud” disrupted our family Bible time last night. We each looked in various rooms for something that fell, but never did figure it out. We finished our Bible reading, discussion, and prayer time and then put the kids to bed. They were able to go to sleep knowing they were safe, despite not understanding the reason for the loud noise.

Similarly, reading Revelation can be puzzling. However, we can focus on what we do know for sure – God is in control! His continued plan of redemption and justice unfolds as the worthy Lamb of God opens the 7 seals of the scroll.

So what’s in the scroll and what are the seven seals?

Revelation chapter 6 begins to tell us.

Revelation 6:1-2      I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” ² I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

Each seal seems to reveal preliminary events leading up to the culmination of God’s plan for redemption and justice. Seven is a number of completeness, so each of these 7 seals reveals a layer of God’s judgment on the earth. One view is that each of these layers is part of the tribulation. Another view is that these layers cover the entire time between Jesus’s 1^st and 2^nd coming. Either way, what we do know is that God is Sovereign and in control of each layer.

Well, what about the rider on the white horse? White often signifies holiness, perfection and purity. God the Father and Jesus the Son are often described as clothed in white. However, this rider on a white horse is “bent” on conquest. He’s not the already Victorious One. He isn’t bent on peace or redemption or justice. He appears like Christ, but deceives. The rider could be the Antichrist or one of the false prophets or a kingdom. His power is given to him and is limited. He can’t do anything outside God’s rule and authority.

Jesus is worthy to open this 1^st seal and He is in control of what comes from it!

How will you and I trust Jesus’s control in our lives today, even when we don’t understand confusing things that happen around us?

Thursday Devotional - Faithful God in Judgment (4/20/23)

What do you think happened to Gehazi after he deceived Naaman and stole from him? Did Elisha ever find out? How about Naaman?

II Kings 5:24-27  When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left.

²⁵ When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?”

“Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered.

²⁶ But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? ²⁷ Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.

Gehazi got caught quickly and received swift judgment! I often wish God would do that with other people who commit horrific crimes and wickedness. God is the Judge of all. His timing is perfect and His judgment is purposeful. He is also loving, compassionate and long-suffering. He gives people opportunities to change. I often don’t understand His timing of things in my finite brain. Yet, I can trust He is in control!

Gehazi witnessed so many astounding miracles and yet chose not to trust God and His ways and His time (like Judas with Jesus). He had numerous opportunities to join in God’s work but missed out on being part of the blessing and being blessed himself!

As we cringe at all the evil in the world, will you and I trust God’s timing and plan for His judgment of sin? We can be thankful He is patient with us when we sin. He has actually judged all sin on the cross, if we choose to accept Jesus taking our place for sin! For those who don’t accept Jesus’ sacrifice, there is eternal judgment coming. Are you and I going to be like Gehazi – try things our way and reject God’s ways and timing? Or, are you and I going to be like all the other servants in Naaman’s story that believed God, trusted His ways and did their part to point others to Him?

Thursday Devotional - Murderer or god?

People can sure be fickle. One minute they can be singing your praises and the next minute tearing you to shreds. Opinions and beliefs can change quickly, too, based on what people see, hear, feel, want to believe, etc. 

I’m not immune to this, either. In fact, I thought Joe (my husband) was arrogant and rude when I first met him. He did interrupt a conversation I was having with another guy, which may have skewed my opinion. 😊

Paul experienced this fickleness of people. Once he was safely on land after the shipwreck, the islanders made drastic judgement calls about him!

Acts 28:1-6    Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. ² The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. ³ Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. ⁴ When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵ But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. ⁶ The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

When was the last time you and I made a quick and rash judgment call that we later realized was incorrect?

Many of us here at Thomson Reuters have been through the training on assuming positive intent. It is sometimes hard to do, especially when our emotions are already riled. However, doesn’t it benefit us and the other person to calm down, assume the best, listen, gather additional details, and then react and respond?

With whom do you and I need to especially practice this?

Alice

Listen, Learn, And Love

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:5-11

I was listening to a lady speaking about the challenges of being a woman in a workplace.  It came to a very interesting part that struck a chord in me.  She said that as a Christian black woman, people of the LGBT community would not approach her.  I let that thought marinate for a bit, and it occurred to me why that was.  You see, I too am with my own bias, and as a Christian, we can have such a strong response toward sin that it often can push away others.  Some of those are the very people that need Jesus more than we realize.  So how can I reach them?  First, I need to acknowledge that I too am flawed.  Then before I jump on my pedestal, my built-in guard rail of humility must remind me that at best I am not better than those around me.  Finally, I must pray my actions focus on opening my heart and mind to whatever is on their mind.  No judgment.  Just listen, learn, and love.

As Christians, we always must remind ourselves of the example Christ set for us to be toward non-believers.  Today’s verses are a reminder of the mindset of Christ, which set Him up to be glorified above all others.  I think of the calling of Matthew by Jesus himself as an example.  Matthew had a banquet for Jesus where many of his fellow tax collector friends came to ‘hang out’ with the Messiah.  Luke 5:30 says, “But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?””  Why were they complaining?  How often are we judging others because they are not ‘like us Christians?’  Do we look down on them with disdain seeing those who do not follow Christ as unruly sinful creatures? “Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” (Luke 5:31) It is highly likely that those Jesus puts in our lives are just like Matthew; lowly and not like ourselves.  Thus, we represent hope, joy, love, and acceptance  to those distant from God and in many ways need someone.  You know.  Distant like the person I was when He found me (a young man who never thought he was worthy of God’s grace).  Or maybe that same person when He found you (insert your story here).  God opened His arms, and asked us to come as we are.  He neither judged our past nor said we did not make the grade.  He said as Jesus said to Matthew, “Follow me.” (see Luke 5:27)  He focuses on the future as if to say, “Together, we’ll figure this out.”

Jesus Christ's love overcomes all barriers.  None of us are exactly where God wants us, but we have come a long way.  The journey is filled with detours and unexpected changes in our own plan, but we must always trust His plan for us.  Some of those very detours are people who we ordinarily see little in common with.  If we judge others by their faith, orientation, political affiliation, gender, we have closed ourselves to becoming that which Jesus so clearly showed to be wrong.  This is not to say He changes His standard.  What it does say is He transforms once we have accepted Him as Lord.  Isn’t that what we would want for all those who do not believe in Him?  How can we better display God’s heart and less His judgment?  My prayer is that when speaking with non-believers, we display the mindset of Jesus, and listen, learn, and love.  Amen.

Godly Intent

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.  Matthew 7:1-2 

One things a friend told me is that they talk with me because I do not judge them.  I am not sure if that is a compliment or a curse.  Nonetheless, it comes from a genuine belief that if you spend a lot of time thinking how to correct a person, you cannot truly understand them.  Why?  The key to listening is to gain understanding of another person.  Not judge whether they are right or wrong.  That is only part of the nonjudgmental equation.  The second part is to assume the best of others.  Not the worst.  For example, when someone commits a sin, we can draw one of two conclusions.  Either one, we could go the Samuel L. Jackson route yelling, “Yes, they deserve to die, and I hope they burn in Hell.”  Or, we are like the loving God who looks at His child saying, “My child, why would you do that?  Do you think that pleases me” response.  The first version is judging that turns off the listener.  The second version is understanding Godly intent that seeks understanding of both your and their relationship with God. 

We must focus on Godly intent with others and ourselves.  I am always saddened when I have failed God.  I find myself thinking like Paul did when he said, “So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.  I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” (Romans 7:14-15)  These verses are not an endorsement of sin.  Instead, they are a realistic look of our journey of faith that reminds us we all at times struggle.  We face challenges with sin, and God looks at those who have not accepted Christ with judgment.  However through Jesus Christ, we are looked on with the thought, “What can we learn from this?”  Do we grow from it, or do we continually let sin eat away at our character?  This is what Godly intent is about.  It means we look to do better even as we may have failed.  It focuses on what do we know and how could we do better.  The best thing is if we indeed get better and grow, our relationship with God grows with it. 

Understanding this, we must look at others the same way.  This is the underlining message of today’s verses.  If God looks at us with the intent we mean well even as we fail, we too must take that approach with others.  It makes the person that is supposedly beyond redeeming as a person we seek to understand why that is the case.  It becomes less about the sin and more about the person committing it.  It says, “I love you as you are,” and that is a message that a person supposedly beyond redemption may have never heard and often is desperate to hear. 

God loves us for both who we are and who we can be.  Should we accept this and continue to grow, God will be pleased.  Furthermore if we look unto others with that same belief, they perhaps will see the love of God they so long to have in their lives.  So let us push toward being open to understanding and less on judging.  When do you know you are judging and not listening?  How can you create for others a judgment free zone?  My prayer is that we remember how God’s showed us grace, and when talking to others, we have Godly intent.  Amen.