Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy of our Rejoicing over Justice (1/22/26)

Often it seems evil prevails and justice is far off. Yet, God will bring about complete justice in His time and we are to rejoice in it. He is gracious to give people plenty of opportunities to repent for their evil ways and turn to Him before He brings His final judgment.

As the destruction of Babylon the Great continues, various groups lament her downfall. Merchants and sea captains weep over the loss of their wealth, which was gained through her. Last week, we discussed the opportunity the onlookers had to repent of their own evil ways before destruction came to them. However, they continue to wallow in their distress instead of repenting.

Revelation 18:15-20 ¹⁵ The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn ¹⁶ and cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
    dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
    and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!
¹⁷ In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. ¹⁸ When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ ¹⁹ They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
    where all who had ships on the sea
    became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’

²⁰ “Rejoice over her, you heavens!
    Rejoice, you people of God!
    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
    with the judgment she imposed on you.”

In response to Babylon’s destruction, I think there are only two correct reactions: repentance or rejoicing. The onlookers need to repent while the people of God are commanded to rejoice at the destruction of Babylon the Great.

God is patient. God is loving. God is gracious. God is also just. He will right all wrongs one day and we can rejoice in His perfect, holy, and righteous judgment. He is the only One who can administer correct vengeance and accurately avenge. We aren’t to take revenge, as Paul says in Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.        

Reflecting on our lives, when have you and I taken vengeance into our own hands rather than leaving it to God? What were the consequences? What injustice do you and I need to surrender to God and wait on His timing to bring about justice? In heaven, we will be able to rejoice in Jesus’s victory and His perfect judgment!

Thursday Devotional - Rejoice in Persecution?

God miraculously freed the apostles from prison so they could continue telling people about their new life in Christ. However, they were persecuted even worse the next time.

Acts 5:27-33   ²⁷ The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸ “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹ God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 

As the Sanhedrin met to decide their punishment, they decided to have the apostles flogged instead of killed (vs. 34-40). The Sanhedrin gave the apostles orders again to not to speak about Jesus.

God had specifically told the apostles to go back to the temple to share the good news. They could have wondered why God would allow their arrest again (with flogging this time) after they obediently did exactly what He told them to do. However, instead of questioning God or getting mad at Him, they rejoiced.

Acts 5: 41-42 ⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. ⁴² Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Do you and I rejoice when we face difficulties with something God has specifically asked us to do? I know I don’t. I do pray for help, express my confusion to God and ask for eyes to see how He might use the difficulty (such as with being told we had to move the “See You at the Pole” offsite earlier this year).

Like the apostles, let’s obediently and joyfully persevere in what God has asked us to do, no matter what persecution, opposition or challenge comes our way. He can help us rejoice through it and see the blessings!  

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Harmony without Humility?

Can there be true harmony without humility? I don’t think so.

In the United States, we are very individualistic and self-centered. We also teach children from a young age to take pride in who they are, where they came from, what they can do, etc. Instilling appropriate confidence is one thing, but we tend toward conceit more than just confidence. Then, we wonder why we as adults struggle to be inclusive, collaborate, and resolve conflicts. We can’t be prideful or conceited AND live in harmony. Harmony comes from humility, as Paul points out in the following passage.

Romans 12:14-16  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.

What relationship in your and my life lacks harmony right now (especially with fellow believers)? We can’t control the other people, but we can examine ourselves and ask God to help us recognize where we can be more loving and humble versus prideful and arrogant.

Paul gives us some practical ways to be humble and harmonious by sharing in the joys of and sympathizing with the hurts of others.

So, we can begin our harmonious and humble living by looking for ways to genuinely rejoice or mourn with someone else this week!

Alice