Listen Up!
Reading: Revelation 13
My Verse: "And all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay him homage, everyone whose name has not been recorded in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone is able to hear let him listen." (13:8,9)
I truly struggle as I read this, LORD God. It seems too much for me. I find it hard to grasp the awfulness of what is spoken of here. I know that You reveal to me that which I need to understand, that which is needed for my spiritual growth and in my understanding of my walk with You. What pops out of this passage for me is Your plea to us. "If anyone is able to hear let him listen." Oh how we need to listen up to You!
The consequences of not listening to You are spelled out here in horrendous graphic detail. So many refuse to bow to You because they think they are independent of any need for a higher power, You.
They think they are strong enough and smart enough to do without Your help. And yet here we are told that in the end "all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay him homage." In the end there are no options, if they have not given themselves to You then they will bow down to Satan and the beast. There will be no choice. All will worship.
Throughout the ages it has been pointed out that man does worship whether he admits it or not.
"A person will worship something, have not doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our hearts, but it will out. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming." Ralph Waldo Emerson
This is so scriptural. You tell us throughout Scripture that You created us to glorify You. You created us to fellowship with You. There is that deep deep need in each of us and unfortunately, we attempt to fill that need with many things instead of You. Yet, we long for You.
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" (Psalm 42:1-2)
"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (Psalm 63:1).
"People need more that bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God" (Matthew 4:4).
Dear LORD God, time is ephemeral. It is something we so take for granted. We make plans and live as though we have so much of it. Yet, time can end in a second for each of us. We can be face to face with eternity in the blink of an eye. Now is the time to decide. Now is the time to allow You to cleanse us, heal us, forgive us and save us from an eternity without You.
Oh, LORD God, I pray for loved ones here. I pray that You open up the eyes and ears of their hearts that they may be enabled to see and hear You. I pray that they listen to Your call to them. "I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him . . ." (Revelation 3:20).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: Revelation 13
My Verse: "And all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay him homage, everyone whose name has not been recorded in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone is able to hear let him listen." (13:8,9)
I truly struggle as I read this, LORD God. It seems too much for me. I find it hard to grasp the awfulness of what is spoken of here. I know that You reveal to me that which I need to understand, that which is needed for my spiritual growth and in my understanding of my walk with You. What pops out of this passage for me is Your plea to us. "If anyone is able to hear let him listen." Oh how we need to listen up to You!
The consequences of not listening to You are spelled out here in horrendous graphic detail. So many refuse to bow to You because they think they are independent of any need for a higher power, You.
They think they are strong enough and smart enough to do without Your help. And yet here we are told that in the end "all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay him homage." In the end there are no options, if they have not given themselves to You then they will bow down to Satan and the beast. There will be no choice. All will worship.
Throughout the ages it has been pointed out that man does worship whether he admits it or not.
"A person will worship something, have not doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our hearts, but it will out. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming." Ralph Waldo Emerson
This is so scriptural. You tell us throughout Scripture that You created us to glorify You. You created us to fellowship with You. There is that deep deep need in each of us and unfortunately, we attempt to fill that need with many things instead of You. Yet, we long for You.
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" (Psalm 42:1-2)
"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (Psalm 63:1).
"People need more that bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God" (Matthew 4:4).
Dear LORD God, time is ephemeral. It is something we so take for granted. We make plans and live as though we have so much of it. Yet, time can end in a second for each of us. We can be face to face with eternity in the blink of an eye. Now is the time to decide. Now is the time to allow You to cleanse us, heal us, forgive us and save us from an eternity without You.
Oh, LORD God, I pray for loved ones here. I pray that You open up the eyes and ears of their hearts that they may be enabled to see and hear You. I pray that they listen to Your call to them. "I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him . . ." (Revelation 3:20).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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