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 - God Is With Us When We’re Tempted

When you are being tempted, do you usually feel surrounded by darkness or by God’s loving arms? It may depend on the temptation, but it can feel like a heavy weight of darkness!

As Joe and I continue walking through some situations with one of our children, our timely Matthew study has helped us! We studied repentance last week (in Matthew 3) and temptation this week (in Matthew 4).

Matthew 4:1-4, 8-11      Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”  Jesus answered, “it is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’.” … Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”  Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’.” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.  Matthew 4:1-4, 8-11

God doesn’t tempt us, but He does allow us to be tempted just as He allowed Jesus to be tempted. However, God always provides a way out (I Corinthians 10:13).  Knowing His Word (like Jesus did) will help us recognize and choose the “way out.”  The “way out” may even include choosing not to go somewhere or do something in the first place that might lead to a tempting situation. 

We can run into God’s open arms instead of into the trap of temptation. As we’ve been trying to convey to our child, God is ready to help us, if we will turn to Him. He can surround us and provide what He knows we need, just as He provided strength and truths during Jesus’ temptation. He then sent angels to attend to Jesus’ needs afterwards. 

Our child thought of several verses they could quote when tempted and they realized they could pray before doing everything (even small things like washing their hands). They said it seemed silly and really hard. Yes, but if we could all do that, imagine how God-focused and obedient we would be!!!   

How will you be ready to recognize and use God’s presence and help when you’re tempted? He’s ready with open arms to embrace you and me when we run from temptation!

Alice

Faith of the Fathers

The three Patriarchs of the people of Israel were amazing examples of faith. Yet, it's difficult to beat the example of Abraham offering Isaac in obedience to the One promising him children. This event is recorded in detail in Genesis 22. God tested Abraham. In the Hebrew, this word for "test" can refer to temptations as well as qualitative tests.

The word used in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (Septuagint) is also used by the writer of Hebrews in 11:17 for "test". It refers to testing to determine quality, and sometimes originates from ill will (temptation). God does this sort of thing with us, but we are not to do such things with Him (Luke 4:12, quoting Deuteronomy 6:16). The Pharisees did this sort of testing of Jesus constantly.

So, here's the way the writer of Hebrews uses it:

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. (Hebrews 11:17-19 NASB)

Think through this test for a second. In Genesis 21, God has had Abraham send away Hagar and Abraham's son Ishmael, telling Abraham that Isaac would be the "child of promise". Now, "some time later", this same Yahweh calls on Abraham to kill Isaac, specifically calling out both Isaac, and the special relationship between he and Abraham. Think about that for a second. It should give you chills. It should give you some pause for a moment, possibly even doubt. Because behind this story is the reader's reaction of "what might my Savior ask of me?" And that's a very good question.

The test of Abraham is of his quality of belief. God had promised that He would fulfill Abraham's promise through Isaac. So, Abraham had to decide whether he would believe this God even when He seemed capricious. Did Abraham believe that this God would make good on a promise even when He seemed to be reneging? Do you?

When things aren't going well, do you still believe in the goodness of our Savior? When it's no longer "fun", when it's taking too long, when you are actually being persecuted and suffering, will you persist in your belief of the goodness of your Creator? Is Jesus still on His throne interceding for you? Is the Father still caring for you? Is the Spirit of the Living God still residing within you? Do you still believe, even when it's not convenient, popular, fun, or even safe? What if persisting in belief and being obedient actually costs you something precious?

It's easy to answer "yes" in the abstract imagination of "what might be". I suspect that I have a limit to my faith. I don't know where it is, exactly, but I suspect it wouldn't be very difficult to find. I have spent time doubting my Savior. I have spent time behaving as if He was't real, His promises weren't sure, and as if He didn't truly love me. For some peculiar reason, He still forgives me. I can't answer the above questions with absolute confidence because I haven't been tested to the extremes of my faith, not yet, but my day is coming.

How about you?

Detour

“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!  And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  Joshua 24:14-15 (NIV)

We try our best to make good decisions.  Some of them are very simple like getting up from bed and taking a shower before work.  Others might be a bit more challenging like wearing the right clothes for an interview or deciding on which washer and dryer set to get from the appliance store (Yes, my wife and I did that once).  However there are some decisions where we tend to overcomplicate things.  Some of these can lead to dangerous results.  For example, a gambler will risk his mortgage payment trying to make up for losses earlier in the day.  Their thought?  I need to make up for the money I lost.  But why would one risk their home just because they lost earlier?  I never have gambled, but I’ve heard the ugly stories when someone did.  It’s always the impulse of ‘I can win this time!’  When conflicted with what God expects and my own wants, I have to avoid focusing on temporary and impulsive happiness in exchange for long term spiritual growth and abundance of joy God offers.  Of course the latter is better, but I must discipline myself not to fall for an immediately gratifying but unfulfilling detour.

We should always maintain our focus on God’s long term plan toward joy rather than our own temporary pathway to short-term fulfillment.  I saw today’s verse pop up on my Bible app today.  Normally, I write something God inspires me to throughout the week.  However, I realized I had never written on these verses albeit one of my favorites.  A Christian song that I love to hear speaks of it saying, “As for me and my house, we will serve you Lord.”  In reading the verses, it feels like one of those arguments where you are willing to listen to discussion, but you already know what your answer is.  For example when Jesus is being tempted in the wilderness after 40 days and nights of fasting, the devil tries to tempt Jesus, but we already know how Jesus was going to respond, right?  “People do not live by bread alone,” and “You must not test the Lord your God.” (Matthew 4:6b, 7b)  Like God said to the people in Joshua, we can all grow comfortable in our surroundings, but we must always remember the God we serve; the one who carries us when we are weak and was always there for the Israelites from Abraham through Moses and Joshua.

God is always on our side.  We not only have plenty of stories throughout the Bible but also our own experiences when God displayed His faithfulness pulling us through crisis after crisis.  We will always have to deal with temptation to take what may seemingly appear to be an easy way out, but we know the right choice as God laid out to Israel in today’s verses.  Don’t take the easy route!  Trust in God’s long term plan for your life.  What is tempting you to divert from God’s long term plans for you?  How can you stay on course when temptation hits at your time of stress?  My prayer is that we are able to seek the long term joy God has in store for our lives and not fall prey to the short term detour.  Amen.

I Don't Like You

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.  Romans 8:5-11

I don’t like God sometimes.  I say this much like I say it to my wife Loretta.  You know when you have that argument about a decision with your significant other and make a choice your way only to find out later that they were right all along, you just look with that face of resignation, and your significant other just smiles with that grin saying, “I told you so.”  The only thing left to say after that is, “I don’t like you.”  For me, it is a subtle way of admitting to my wife I should have trusted her.  Much in the same way, God will literally point out something in my life that I either took too lightly or gave into principally, and then show the error of my ways.  I love Him for that because in spite of that He is still shows me grace, but that does not mean that I like Him.  Fortunately like my wife, He understands . . . I think  J

God wants all of us to live a life resisting the temptations of the flesh so that the Holy Spirit that dwells within us will grow.  Today’s verses from Romans signify the beginning of what many pastors feel is one of the most important chapters in the Bible; Romans 8.  Paul was pointing out a fundamental truth of a growing walk of faith.  It is one that does not give in to what the flesh wants, and has discipline to know that the mind and heart must focus on what is pleasing to God and not governed by our often shallow and short sighted wants.  While this seems simple enough, we often fail to realize when it is being tested.  Sometimes, it can be as simple as lending a hand to a friend in need.  Other times, it could be as complex as knowing when a relationship with a member of the opposite sex has grown too cozy.  There could be a situation where you’re challenged to do God’s work when it is uncomfortable for you, and in another, peer pressure will push you saying ‘everyone does it at least once.’  No matter how simple or complex the situation, our goal is to have our mind ‘governed by the Spirit’ such that we will always make good decisions or as my granddaughter would say, “Make better choices.”  Should we fail, we must be repentant but not discouraged.  Instead, read God’s word, and find ways so that you can be successful the next time.

God never said staying on course was easy.  Jesus said, “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13b)   We all find our way at some point heading toward that gate of destruction.  I personally have gone through that gate a couple of times.  However through God’s grace and sometimes discipline, we are shown a better path.  If we believe in Him and keep walking by faith, the Spirit of Christ will grow within us such that we always will find our way to the righteous path again.  What subtle hints is God giving you of a wrong path?  How can you let the Spirit of Christ guide your decisions more?  My prayer is that we continue to love God and Christ within us knowing that sometimes, we won’t like Him.  Amen.

Asleep At The Wheel

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.”  He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed.  He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?  Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”  Matthew 26:36-41

My wife will testify that I do a lot of driving (about 40,000 miles a year).  Some days, I can barely hold my eyes open on the road.  Over the years, I have learned to find something to keep me awake like music, or if on a long road trip, I find a safe spot to rest for a moment.  The key is that when driving, I am always alert to what may be going on so that I do not endanger not only the people with me but also the other drivers.  After all, it only takes one moment of distraction to change the lives of others, and I do not want to be asleep at the wheel when something might happen.

We should always be alert to what God might have planned for we might miss when He is up to something.  I have read today’s verses multiple times focusing on the humility of Jesus wanting to do God’s will over His own.  However, I did not fully focus on the part of Peter, James, and John falling asleep while Jesus was praying until now.  Here it is, the people who were back then the most loyal to Jesus, and they were sleep on the job!  Now I’m sure that was not their intention, but they had not realized this was the day before the crucifixion.  Had they truly been ‘awake,’ they would have understood why Jesus instructed them as He did, and perhaps they would have embraced this moment more than they did.  As we grow in our faith, we too can ‘fall asleep’ when God is instructing us to do something.  Taking that into consideration, this story becomes a warning of sorts for all of us.  Jesus instructs us to keep an eye out and pray faithfully for the world is filled with temptation, and if we are not wise and awake to it, we will stumble and fall.

We must be vigilant in our focus on Jesus.  There are plenty of worldly distractions, and when we are not distracted, our faith can be under duress such that we grow tired and weary.  But today’s verses should help us understand that Jesus knows this and instructs us to ‘keep watch and pray’ for “(God) gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:29)  By doing this, we are always on a mission for God.  Are there areas of your faith that need an awakening?  What will you do to stay alert to God’s prompting?  My prayer is that as we begin to reflect on the final days of Christ on earth, let us remember to stay alert to God at all times so that we do not fall asleep at the wheel.  Amen.