Monthly Archives: September 2015

All will bow (Revelation 15), September 10, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 15

Set – Lamentations 3; Revelation 15

Go! – Lamentations 3-5; Revelation 15

Revelation 15
1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing: seven messengers with seven plagues—plagues that marked the end. With these the wrath of God reached its end.
2 And then I saw something like a sea made of glass mixed with fire flashing through it. Those who had been victorious over the beast, its image, and the number of its name were standing on the sea of glass, holding the harps of God in their hands. 3 As they stand and play their harps, they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.
Victors: Great and amazing are Your works,
Lord God, the All Powerful.
Right and true are Your ways,
King of all nations.
4 Who will not fear You, Lord?
Who will not glorify Your name?
Because You alone are holy,
all the nations will come
and worship before You,
For Your righteous judgments have been revealed.
5 After I had taken all this in, I looked again; and the inner part of the tabernacle of witness opened in heaven. 6 Out of the temple came seven messengers, clothed in pure linen, bright and shining, their chests clad in a golden sash, carrying seven plagues. 7 Then one of the four living creatures stepped over to give to the seven messengers seven golden bowls brimming with the wrath of God who lives throughout the ages. 8 The temple was full of the smoke billowing from the magnificent glory of God and from His power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven messengers accomplished their God-ordained end.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Before the great day of My judgment, the victors over sin, those believing in the blood I shed for your forgiveness, will sing a song of praise to Me. It is an old song that reverberates through the heavens from the mouths of all who have known My saving grace.

“Who will not fear you, Lord? Who will not glorify your name? Because You alone are holy, all the nations will come and worship before You.” Of course, after My plagues descend on the earth and the wicked feel My wrath, they too will know that I am holy and all nations will begivn to fall at My feet. Still many will fail to worship Me. Many will still wallow in their sins and selfishness and think they know better than Me. They will curse Me and cry out thinking their punishment isn’t deserved.

But I am a holy God and before anyone can come into My presence, their sins must be washed away by the blood of My sacrifice. Many will think it foolish and refuse. Many will continue to follow their sinful ways and die. Many will refuse to accept Me to their own eternal destruction. My mercy and grace has stayed My hand of wrath for centuries, but I will not hold it back forever. It will come. I have told you and I always keep My promises.

I long to see you among that throng of victors singing the song of Moses, a song of victory and praise. At judgment, many will bow to Me as Lord and Savior. The rest will bow to Me as Judge and Executioner. Be in the first group instead of the second. All will bow to Me. It’s your choice to make as to which group you will belong to. Choose the right one. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

What kind of book is Revelation (Revelation 14:6-20), September 9, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 14:6-20

Set – Lamentations 2; Revelation 14

Go! – Lamentations 1-2; Obadiah; Revelation 14

Revelation 14:6-20
6 I saw another messenger flying through midheaven. He carried an eternal gospel, bringing good news to all the citizens of the earth—every ethnicity, nation, language, and people.
Heavenly Messenger (with a loud voice): 7 Fear God. Give Him glory, for the time of judgment has arrived. Worship the One who fashioned heaven and earth and created the seas and the springs.
8 Another messenger, a second, came along.
Second Messenger: Fallen, fallen is Babylon, the great city! She has intoxicated all the nations with the wine of the wrath of her sexual perversion.
9 Another messenger, a third, followed.
Third Messenger (with a loud voice): Those who worship the beast and its image, and all who receive its mark on their foreheads or on their hands, 10 will be forced to drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured out undiluted into the cup of God’s anger. And they will face the torment of fire and the agony of sulfurous flames before the holy messengers and the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment will rise throughout the ages for eternity. Day and night will come and go without pause or cessation. There will be no end to the torture experienced by those who worship the beast and its image and by those who receive the mark of its name.
12 Here is the patient endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and remain faithful to Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice call out from heaven.
A Voice: Record this: “Blessed are the dead who have died in the Lord from now until the end.”
Spirit: Yes, they will rest from their labors because their deeds remain with them.
14 Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, a golden wreath atop His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 Another messenger proceeded from the temple and called with a loud voice to the One who sat on the cloud.
Heavenly Messenger: Take Your sickle and reap the harvest, because the harvest of the earth is full and ripe and because the time to harvest has come.
16 Then the One seated on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth gave up its harvest.
17 Just then another messenger proceeded out of the heavenly temple. He also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another messenger (the one with authority over fire) came out from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle.
Messenger of Fire: Take your sharp sickle and gather together the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for the grapes are ripe and ready for harvest.
19 So the heavenly messenger swung his sickle over the earth, gathered the fruit of the vine from the earth, and threw it into the great winepress, which is the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside of the city, and blood flowed from the winepress. The blood ran deep. It reached as high as the bridle on a horse and ran for the distance of about 185 miles.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

For centuries men have tried to unravel the mysteries of the end times. When will I return to take My children to be with Me through eternity? When will I finally pour out My wrath and avenge the evil prosecuted against those who bear My name? How long will I stand by and watch the evil in this world continue before I call an end to it all and call My faithful home? You read Revelation and see the punishments and the wrath and want it to come to join Me soon.

Many see Revelation as a vision of My wrath and fury, of final judgment against the evil of the world. They recite the judgments, the plagues, the battles that John relates in the visions I should him during his exile on the Isle of Patmos. But the book is so much more than a recitation of My judgments. Look deep into its verses.

Even in what you heard today, the book is filled with recognition of who I am. John acknowledges Me as the one True God, worthy of blessings and honor and glory. The Holy One who will provide rest for those who labor justly and rightly in this world. I am the One who avenges those abused by evil men. John’s Revelation has much to say about My wrath, vengance, and the devastation that will lay waste the world at the end of time. It also has much to say about the glory I will receive, the praises I you will sing, and the wonders of heaven you will enjoy. It is a book of mystery and worship.

Read it with the praise of My people in mind the next time you pick it up.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Korah knows Jerusalem’s strength (Psalm 48), September 8, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 48

Set – Psalms 48; Revelation 13

Go! – Jeremiah 42-44; Psalms 48; Revelation 13

Psalms 48
1 The Eternal is great and mighty, worthy of great praise
in the city of our True God, upon His holy mountain.
2 Situated high above, Mount Zion is beautiful to see,
the pleasure of the entire earth.
Mount Zion, in the north,
is the city of the great King.
3 In her palaces, the True God
has revealed Himself as a mighty fortress.
4 Not long ago, enemy kings gathered together
and moved forward as one to attack the city.
5 When they saw Mount Zion, they were amazed;
amazement became fear, then panic. They fled for their lives.
6 They were overtaken by terror, trembling in anguish
like a woman in childbirth.
7 God, You shattered the ships of Tarshish
with the mighty east wind.
8 As we have heard stories of Your greatness,
now we have also seen it with our own eyes
right here, in the city of the Eternal, the Commander of heavenly armies.
Right here, in our God’s city,
the True God will preserve her forever.
9 We have meditated upon Your loyal love, O God,
within Your holy temple.
10 Just as Your name reaches to the ends of the earth, O God,
so Your praise flows there too;
Your right hand holds justice.
11 So because of Your judgments,
may Mount Zion be delighted!
May the villages of Judah celebrate!
12 Explore Zion; make an accounting,
note all her towers;
13 Reflect upon her defenses;
stroll through her palaces
So that you can tell the coming generation all about her.
14 For so is God,
our True God, forever and ever;
He will be our guide till the end.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

My city. Zion. The City of God. Jerusalem. The place goes by many names, but I know it as My home on earth. The place where My Temple resided for centuries. It was the capital of My chosen people. The place I established the religion that I wanted to share My message of hope and grace. Unfortunately, My people became self-absorbed and wanted a human king like all the nations around them instead of the theocracy under which I wanted to rule them.

Under the kingship of many who failed to follow Me completely, My people no longer worshiped Me but instead worshiped the material things around them. They began to think their city more important than Me. Their material luxuries became their goal and their military prowess grew to expand their borders rather than being content with the land I gave them and the riches I placed in their hands and their hearts.

Korah sang about the strength and power of the city. Those who came after Korah forgot that its power rested solely in Me. When Nebuchannezar’s forces destroyed it and turned it to rubble, they learned a terrible lesson. All who think their power rests in the instruments and strength of man find they put their faith in the wrong thing. Nothing can stand against Me. Nor can anything stand in the way of My plans. I can heal and I can destroy, but My greatest desire is to have you follow Me.

Satan tries to tell you that your power lies within you. He tries to disguise My protection and My good gifts as his own or tell you it comes from your strength and wisdom. It does not! You can do nothing apart from Me. After all, I’m the one who gives you breath. I’m the one who allows your heart to beat each beat in rhythm. How would you accomplish anything if suddenly I decided to strip the air from the earth? What would your focus become if suddenly your heart stopped beating?

So much of what society then and now focus on is temporal. It doesn’t last. Even the ancient city of Jerusalem crumbled to nothing and has been built upon century after century. Acheologists find ruins of the old city, but most of what was there when I gave it to My people in the years of the birth of the nation crumbled to dust. What is left are long faded memories of people long dead. The only things that really last are the intangibles of life, the relationship you have with Me and those who follow Me.

I only include the group of those who follow Me as relationships that will last because in the final judgment, if banished to an eternity without Me, you will find yourself in an eternity alone. An immortal soul longing for companionship but unable to find anyone to console you. You will be isolated from Me and so isolated from those who live with Me. You’ll also be removed from any love. Completely isolated. Completely alone. I didn’t create humankind to be alone. I created you with the need for relationships. The worst part of hell will be the isolation you feel from every other person.

Don’t pay the price by failing to listen to My voice and following Me. You can choose to believe My word and obey My voice. I want you with Me. Make the right choice.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Speak up! (Revelation 12), September 7, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 12

Set – 2 Chronicles 36; Revelation 12

Go! – 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 40-41; Revelation 12

Revelation 12
1 As I looked, a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman came into view clothed in the radiance of the sun, standing with the moon under her feet, and she was crowned with a wreath of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was painfully pregnant and was crying out in the agony of labor. 3 Then a second sign appeared in heaven, ominous, foreboding: a great red dragon, with seven crowned heads and ten horns. 4 The dragon’s tail brushed one-third of the stars from the sky and hurled them down to the earth. The dragon crouched in front of the laboring woman, waiting to devour her child the moment it was born.
5 She gave birth to a male child, who is destined to rule the nations with an iron scepter. Before the dragon could bite and devour her son, the child was whisked away and brought to God and His throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place of refuge and safety where she could find sustenance for 1,260 days.
7 A battle broke out in heaven. Michael, along with his heavenly messengers, clashed against the dragon. The dragon and his messengers returned the fight, 8 but they did not prevail and were defeated. As a result, there was no place left for them in heaven. 9 So the great dragon, that ancient serpent who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was cast down to the earth along with his messengers. 10 Then I heard a great voice in heaven.
A Voice: Now the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of His Anointed One have come.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who relentlessly accuses them day and night before our God,
has been cast down and silenced.
11 By the blood of the Lamb
and the word of their witnesses,
they have become victorious over him,
For they did not hold on to their lives, even under threat of death.
12 Therefore, rejoice, all you heavens;
celebrate, all you who live in them.
But disaster will befall the earth and the sea,
for the devil has come down to your spheres,
And he is incredibly angry
because he knows his time is nearly over.
13 When the dragon realized he had been cast down to the earth, he pursued the mother of the male infant. 14 In order to escape the serpent, she was given the two wings of the great eagle to fly deeper into the wilderness to her own special place where she would find sustenance for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a raging river that chased after the woman, trying to sweep her away in the flood. 16 But the earth came to her rescue. It opened its gaping mouth and swallowed the river that spewed from the dragon’s mouth. 17 As a result, the dragon was enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children—those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the testimony of Jesus.
18 And the dragon stood waiting on the sand of the seashore.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Satan is already defeated. He doesn’t want to admit it, but it is true nonetheless. John saw his ultimate defeat in the vision I gave him of the end times as Satan tried to devour the newborn child, then Michael and his cohorts defeated Satan and his forces. The defeated Satan and his forces fell to earth in a last attempt to devour My children.

An important point I want you to hear from Satan’s defeat attests to the method used for this victory over him. Listen again. “A Voice: Now the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of His Anointed One have come.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who relentlessly accuses them day and night before our God,
has been cast down and silenced.
By the blood of the Lamb
and the word of their witnesses,
they have become victorious over him,
For they did not hold on to their lives, even under threat of death.”

You see, it was the blood of the Lamb and the word of their witnesses that defeated him. Speaking about what I have done on your behalf. Proclaiming My salvation to you and My Spirit living in you defeats the evil one and keeps him at bay. With Me in your life, he cannot overcome you because I have already defeated him.

This is the secret to abundant living now. Don’t hold onto your life, give it to Me. Trust Me with all of you, even your life. Trust in the saving power of My blood, shed for you on the cross. Then boldly share your faith with others. As I prompt you to speak with someone, just do it. I will give you the words. Just take the first step. Don’t be silent. Your witness defeats Satan and his forces. Your salvation and that of others is at stake. When I prompt you, speak up. You won’t be sorry. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

God’s witnesses are always here (Revelation 11:1-14), September 6, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 11:1-14

Set – Ezekiel 31; Revelation 11

Go! – Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11

Revelation 11:1-14
1 Then I received a measuring rod. It resembled a staff, and I was commanded to take measurements.
A Voice: Get up, and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 However, do not measure the court outside of the temple. Separate that area out because it has been handed over to the nations. They will trample over the holy city for 42 months. 3 I will authorize my two witnesses to prophesy for 1,260 days dressed in sackcloth, the clothes that mourners wear.
4 These two witnesses are the two olive trees and two lampstands standing in front of the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone wishes to harm the witnesses, fire spews out of the witnesses’ mouths and consumes their foe in flames. Anyone who wishes to harm them is destined to die this way. 6 They have the authority to shut up the sky so that no rain may fall during the time of their prophecies. They also have authority to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with any plague whenever they desire.
7 On the day they finish their testimony, the beast from the abyss will declare war on them and win victory by killing them. 8 Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city (which, spiritually speaking, is called Sodom and Egypt) where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days, representatives of the peoples and ethnicities, languages and nations stare down at their lifeless bodies and refuse them a proper burial. 10 Because these two prophets tormented the earth dwellers by speaking God’s message, the people will rejoice over their dead bodies and celebrate their deaths by exchanging gifts with one another.
11 At the end of the three and a half days, the spirit of life that comes from God entered their corpses, raising them, and they stood again on their feet. Those who looked on were terrified by what they saw. 12 Then they heard a great voice from heaven.
A Voice: Come up here!
Their enemies watched the spectacle as the witnesses ascended into heaven in a cloud.
13 In that same hour, a great earthquake shook the earth causing one-tenth of the city to crumble into dust, and 7,000 people were killed in the earthquake. Then the rest who were left alive, quaking in fear, turned and glorified the God of heaven.
14 The second disaster has passed; watch as the third disaster comes quickly.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

My prophet Isaiah wrote these words as I inspired him. “So it is when I declare something. My word will go out and not return to Me empty, But it will do what I wanted; it will accomplish what I determined.” I send My prophets out to declare My word. Despite humanity’s efforts to stop it, those efforts always fail. My word will always create the results I want. People will hear My message. They will know what I want them to hear.

Throughout the ages My prophets have been ridiculed, beaten, stoned, shunned, executed, crucified, martyred, misused, misunderstood. They have taken abuse at every turn. They have been ignored and people have tried to discount the message they spoke on My behalf. I have always had witnesses and prophets speaking on My behalf. Even at the end of the age I will send two witnesses to speak My truth to those that remain to give them the message of salvation and try to win them back to Me.

John saw the vision of the end times that during the time My witnesses return to declare My message there will be few that heed their warnings. They will declare the truth of My word and call all nations to repentance, but as with the prophets before them, most will ridicule them, hurl insults at them, and try to destroy their message. In fact, some will try to destroy My witnesses, but those that try will only serve to destroy themselves. Until they have accomplished the mission I gave them to do, they will have My hand of protection on them and no one will harm them.

Then they will die at the hands of evil men. But like My resurrection 2000 years ago, they will find life filling them again three days later and will ascend on clouds of glory in the sight of those who killed them. No one will be able to explain their resurrection and ascension except as by the power of God and many will fall on their face in recognition of My position as God of all creation.

To the very end My desire will always work to bring men back to My saving grace. You have the choice to believe in Me, to follow My commands, or not. Make the right choice before it’s too late. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Avoid the coming wrath (Revelation 10), September 5, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 10

Set – Ezekiel 28; Revelation 10

Go! – Ezekiel 25-28; Revelation 10

Revelation 10
1 Then I saw another extremely powerful messenger descending out of heaven. He wore a cloud wrapped around him, and a rainbow was covering his head. His face shone like the sun, and his legs blazed like columns of fire. 2 In his hand, he held a little scroll that had been unrolled. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on dry land; 3 then he shouted with a voice that sounded like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders answered with their own rumbling voices. 4 As I was about to record the thunders’ answer, a voice from heaven stopped me.
A Voice: Seal up all the seven thunders have spoken; do not write it down!
5 Then the messenger, whom I saw standing on the sea and on the dry land, raised his right hand into heaven 6 and swore an oath to the Eternal One—who always lives, who created heaven, earth, the sea, and all that is in them.
Heavenly Messenger: Time has run out. 7 Whenever the days arrive and the seventh messenger sounds his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished just as He announced to His servants, the prophets.
8 Again, the voice I heard from heaven addressed me.
A Voice: Go. Take the little scroll that is unrolled in the hand of the messenger standing both on the sea and on the dry land.
9 I then went to the messenger and asked him to give me the little scroll.
Heavenly Messenger: Take it, and eat it. Although in your mouth it will be sweet to taste, sweet as honey, it will become bitter when it reaches your stomach.
10 I took the little scroll from the hand of the messenger and ate it. In my mouth, it was sweet like honey, but my stomach became bitter after I swallowed it.
Heavenly Messengers (repeating): 11 Once again, you are to prophesy about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I gave John a most difficult task. Many of the things he saw as I showed him how the future would unfold were more than he could take. He describes how it took the touch of My angels to give him the strengths to continue at times. He saw the glories of heaven that overwhelmed his senses with indescribles scenes. He wrote the letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor describing the conditions of the eras of the ages that would come before My coming again.

John saw the pouring out of My wrath on the unsuspecting masses of humanity that failed to call Me Lord. The plagues and punishment that came to humankind because of their apostacy was beyond the measure of his understanding as he watched in horror. Nothing could stop the movement of My armies as they marched across the world to do My bidding in the destruction of those who failed to follow Me.

John was known as the disciple who loved and to see the mass destruction of so many because of their failure to listen and follow the pleas of My prophets was traumatic for him. But he also understood the cause of the punishment and destruction as he saw My holiness and the glory of My presence. John understood why things will unfold as they would, but like Me, he felt the pain of the judgment that would fall upon humankind.

He heard the messenger’s words and the answer of seven spirits that sounded like thunder, but the words were too ominous to write down. They will complete the mystery that voices the sounding of the seventh and final trumpet that heralds the end of time. Words you do not want to hear because the outpouring of My final wrath will be more than those who remain can endure. The wailing and gnashing of teeth discribed in the scriptures only begins to touch on the torment the souls of those lost to Me will endure.

My words are still true. My prophecies still come true. My salvation is still available to all who will accept it, though. All you need to do to escape the coming wrath is believe in Me for salvation and follow the commands I give you. My commands are not burdensome. They just ask you to give Me Lordship, control, ownership of your life. I ask you to let Me remove the selfishness from the core of your self and replace it with love for Me. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:23-31), September 4, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ezekiel 22:23-31

Set – Ezekiel 22; Revelation 9

Go! – Ezekiel 22-24; Revelation 9

Ezekiel 22:23-31
23 The word of the Eternal came to me.
Eternal One: 24 Son of man, say to her, “You are a land plagued with drought during My wrath—[not a single drop of rain has fallen from the sky.” 25 Her prophets conspire in her midst like raging lions killing their prey; they have destroyed lives, stolen treasures and other valuable things; they have made many wives widows all over the city. 26 Her priests violate My laws and desecrate My holy things. They fail to distinguish between the sacred and profane. They no longer teach that there is a difference between pure and impure! They completely disregard My Sabbaths; as a result I am defamed among My people. 27 Her princes and officials are like a pack of wolves tearing apart their prey. They kill innocent people and ruin lives just to get what they want! 28 Her false prophets whitewash these wicked acts by claiming to receive divine visions, but they are all false! Their divination turns up only lies! They say, “This is what the Eternal Lord says . . . ,” when the Eternal Lord has not said anything to them at all. 29 Her people are full of wickedness: they are bullies and thieves; they have abused the poor and helpless; they have taken advantage of foreigners and perverted justice. 30 I searched for one man among them, a man who could build the wall and stand in the gap before Me and advocate for the land, a man who could convince Me not to destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore, I will dump the fires of My fury on them, and the flames of My indignation will devour them. I will give them what they deserve.
So said the Eternal Lord.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Jerusalem became wicked throughout its very core. From the king to its lowliest citizen, from the vilest criminal element to the priesthood, the city’s citizenry turned from its trust and reliance on Me and became self-centered and trusted in their own strength and power. I sent My prophets to declare My word to them and plead for their repentance, but they would not repent. The people continued to live for themselves and lift up their false gods.

So, as I have with populations that refused to heed My warnings before, I determined to blot the city out of My site. I determined to level My judgment against them and destroy them completely. But before My judgment against the city and its inhabitants came, I gave them one more chance. I looked for one person who would stand as a hedge between My destroyer and the people of Israel who would defend them.

I exercised My grace just as I did with Abraham before My messengers went to Sodom and Gomorah. Then I looked for ten righteous people in the city to save Sodom, but ten could not be found. Now for My people’s protection, I only looked for one. Just one who would stand in the breech and help Me stop the evil that wreaked havoc across the city.

The sad thing about the city is there were some who believed in Me. There were some who had yet to bow to idols and who were still faithful in their worship. But none would stand up to the task and help Me save their brothers and sisters. Although they loved Me, they didn’t love their brothers and sisters enough to stand up for them and turn My wrath. No one stood as Moses did in the wilderness to tell Me, “If you destroy your people, destroy me, too.” You see, no one really understood how to love others as I love. Otherwise someone would have dared to stand in the gap… . But noone did.

Your culture today is much like Ezekiel found as I spoke to him about his nation and Jerusalem. Evil abounds. Men and women feel religious and spiritual, but don’t know Me. They search for something to satisfy the emptiness in their soul but look everywhere but to Me because they do not want to give up sovereignty of their lives to Me, the only way to salvation. I have sent My prophets to you in the form of pastors, Christian leaders, My word available in almost every language around the world.

But do you love your brothers and sisters enough to stand in the gap for them today? Are you willing to be like Moses and perish for them to plead their cases for My mercy and grace instead of My wrath? I still look for those individuals that are willing to love like I love. I still look for those that will stand in the gap and act as a hedge, a buffer, a speaker for Me. There are so few who really understand what I meant when I said, “There is no greater love, than when one lays down his life for another.”

To what length will you go for those around you?

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

His wrath is sure (Revelation 8), September 3, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 8

Set – Psalms 111; Revelation 8

Go! – Ezekiel 20-21; Psalms 111; Revelation 8

Revelation 8
1 When the Lamb cracked open the seventh and final seal, a great silence filled all heaven penetrating everything for about half an hour. 2 Then I saw seven heavenly messengers, the ones who stand before God, receive seven trumpets.
3 An eighth messenger came and stood before the altar carrying a golden censer. He received a large portion of incense to complement the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that sits in front of the throne. 4 From the hand of the eighth messenger, the smoke of the incense mixed with the prayers of God’s people and billowed up before God. 5 The messenger filled the censer with fiery coals from the altar and cast it upon the earth, causing a great commotion of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
6 The seven heavenly messengers raised the seven trumpets and prepared to sound them.
7 The first messenger sounded his trumpet, and a blast of hail and fire mixed with blood was cast down to the earth. As a result, one-third of the land was set ablaze, one-third of the trees were burned, and all the green grass was scorched.
8 The second messenger sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, with bright flames of burning fire, was cast into the sea. As a result, one-third of the sea turned into blood, 9 one-third of the living sea creatures died, and one-third of the ships were obliterated.
10-11 The third messenger sounded his trumpet, and a great star called Wormwood dropped out of heaven, flaming like a torch as it fell on one-third of the rivers and the springs. As a result, one-third of the waters turned bitter like the herb wormwood so that many people died from the poisonous bitter waters.
12 The fourth messenger sounded his trumpet, and one-third of the sun, one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars were darkened. As a result, one-third of their light flickered and failed. For one-third of the day, the sun did not shine; and likewise for one-third of the night, the moon and stars did not give their light.
13 Then I saw an eagle flying through midheaven, and I heard it cry with a loud voice.
Eagle: Woe, woe, woe—horror, disaster, and calamity—to the earth dwellers! The rest of the trumpet blasts from the last three messengers are about to sound.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Pray that you will not be around when the final days arrive. These words describe a small piece of what happens as seen from My throneroom. It does not describe the devastation that people left behind will feel as the fury of My wrath touches the earth. I’m not sure you can really grasp what it would feel like to see a third of the earth destroyed or a third of the water animals die in a single blow or a third of the light from the sun and moon suddenly disappear in a flash.

That’s what will happen in that fateful time. I will begin to pour out My wrath on a sin-scarred world that continues to disavow My presence and power. So I will show those who remain the justice side of holiness. Because I am holy, I will not allow sin into My presence. Only those washed in the blood of My Son’s forgiveness can approach Me. At the time of My Son’s coming into your world again, it will start the outpouring of My punishment for the evil made resident by those who failed to bow to Me.

That day hasn’t come, yet. You still have time choose Me over the evil of the world. You still have time to give yourself to Me, put away your selfish desires, and follow My commands. You don’t have to suffer the destruction that is coming. You can live with Me throughout eternity if you choose. But you must make the choice before I come again. Before it’s too late. When I come again, the sides will have been decided by each individuals choice in this life.

My desire for humankind, My highest creation, is that each individual rebukes the pull of Satan’s selfish ambitions. My desire is that each person recognizes that I have already decided the fate of that father of lies and all who follow him are already doomed. My desire is that all come to repentance and know Me through the salvation provided by My sacrifice on the cross in My human death. My desire is that each one comes to understand the hope of eternity with Me through My resurrection on that first Easter morning.

I will not hold back My wrath much longer. The end of time is as sure as the constant march of the sunrise and sunset. But I will come again. You’ve heard the description of what it will be like if you choose the wrong path. Don’t be among those. Choose My side instead.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Judgment is for your actions (Ezekiel 18), September 2, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ezekiel 18

Set – Ezekiel 18; Revelation 7

Go! – Ezekiel 17-19; Revelation 7

Ezekiel 18
1 The word of the Eternal came to me with a message.
Eternal One: 2 Why do you people continually quote this proverb about Israel:
Fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and their children’s teeth are set on edge?
3 As surely as I live, I, the Eternal Lord, declare you will not quote this proverb in Israel anymore. 4 For every living being belongs to Me—parent and child alike. You will die for your own sins, not because of what your ancestors did. 5 Imagine a righteous man who always does what is right: 6 First, he worships Me exclusively; he doesn’t feast at the heathen shrines atop mountains, nor does he worship idols as others do in Israel—he won’t even look at them! Second, he does not sleep with his neighbor’s wife or have sex with a woman when she is menstruating. 7 Third, he does not persecute or abuse anyone; he gives back a debtor’s collateral and does not seize poorer men’s property. Fourth, he tends to the poor; he clothes the naked and gives his bread to the hungry 8 and doesn’t charge those poor people who borrow from him interest or keep their profits. Fifth, he is law-abiding; he does not participate in wrong deeds and is fair toward all others. 9 Sixth, he is obedient to Me, living by My statutes and faithfully keeping My laws. This man who is righteous—he will surely live.
10-11 Now suppose this righteous man has a violent son. The son is a killer and does wicked things that the righteous father has never done: He worships other gods, feasting at the heathen shrines atop mountains. He defiles his neighbor’s wife. 12 He abuses the poor and persecutes the needy. He seizes property and keeps a debtor’s collateral. He looks up to breathless idols, worshiping them. He breaks the law and commits shocking deeds. 13 He charges those who borrow from him interest and makes excessive profits. Do you think the wicked son will live? Of course not! Because he has done all of these shocking things, he will be put to death, and it will be his own fault.
14 Now, suppose the wicked son has a son of his own, and this son watches his father’s vile lifestyle and chooses not to do as his father has done: 15 He worships Me exclusively; he doesn’t feast at the heathen shrines atop mountains, nor does he worship idols as others do in Israel—he won’t even look at them! He does not defile his neighbor’s wife. 16 He does not persecute or abuse anyone; he gives back a debtor’s collateral and does not seize poorer men’s properties. He tends to the poor; he clothes the naked, gives his bread to the hungry, 17 does not participate in wronging the poor, nor does he charge those who borrow from him interest or make excessive profit. He is obedient to Me, faithfully keeping My laws and living by My statutes. This man who is righteous will not die for his father’s sins. He will surely live. 18 But his father will surely die for his own wicked deeds—taking advantage of the poor, seizing property from poorer Israelites, and refusing to do good for his people.
19 So why do you ask, “Why is the son not also punished for his father’s guilt?” Don’t you see? The son did not commit his father’s sins. The son chose to do what is just and right by remembering and following My laws, so he will surely live. 20 The person who sins will die. The child will not be punished for the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent be punished for the guilt of the child. The righteous will be credited with righteousness. The wicked will be charged with wickedness.
21 But there is good news even for the wicked. If the wicked turn away from their sins, choose to uphold My laws, be honest, and live a righteous life, then they will surely live. They won’t die. 22 I won’t remember any of their previous wrongs against them because of the right things they have done. They will surely live. 23 Do I enjoy watching the wicked die? No. I, the Eternal One, would prefer for the wicked to stop doing the wrong things they do and live. 24 If the righteous stop doing what is right, choose the sinful path, and commit the shocking things the wicked do, do you think they will live? Certainly not! I won’t remember any of their righteous deeds because of all the unfaithful and wicked things they do. They will surely die.
25 You say, “The Lord’s way is not fair at all!” Hear Me, people of Israel: You think My way is unfair? You are the ones with unjust ways! 26 If a righteous person turns away from the right path and chooses to act wickedly, he will die for it. He will die because of the sin he committed. 27 But if a wicked person turns from the wicked path and chooses to be honest and live a righteous life, he will end up saving his life! 28 Because he thought about his wrongs and turned away from the wicked things he’d done, putting them behind him, then he will surely live. He will not die! 29 Yet the people of Israel continue to complain, “The Lord’s way is not fair at all!” You think My way is unfair, people of Israel? Don’t you think you are the ones with perverted ways?
30 Therefore, people of Israel, I will judge each of you according to what you have done. Repent! Turn from your wicked ways so that your sins do not trip you up! 31 Get rid of all your wicked ways! Acquire a new heart and a new spirit! Why would you choose to die, people of Israel? 32 I don’t enjoy watching anyone die, so turn back to Me and live!

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Ezekiel’s call to the people of Israel ends with this question, Why would you choose to die? It’s still the right question to ask yourself and all those around you. You have a choice. At the end of time, when I’ve come again to call an end to this decreped, sinful world, I will conduct a judgment on each individual. You will not answer for your parents lives, nor will you answer for what your children do. You will answer only for yourself. But I will judge you. You probably know where you stand with Me if you take a quick inventory of your heart. I don’t keep those secrets from you. But I can also put you into a right relationship with Me if you’ve drifted away. Just call on Me and then follow My directions. Pretty simple instructions. Not always easy in this world, but simple instructions to follow. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Prostitution, not the highest goal to achieve (Ezekiel 16:1-34), September 1, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ezekiel 16:1-34

Set – Ezekiel 16; Psalms 70; Revelation 6

Go! – Ezekiel 15-16; Psalms 70; Revelation 6

Ezekiel 16:1-34
1 The word of the Eternal came to me with a message for Jerusalem.
2 My Lord commanded me, the son of man, to confront Jerusalem, condemn her shocking actions, 3 and tell her what He says to Jerusalem.
Eternal One: You won’t be able to shake your pagan heritage. Your ancestors were Canaanites, and you were born among the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite. 4 When you were born, no one cut your umbilical cord. No one took care of you: you were not washed with water and purified, nor were you rubbed with salt and wrapped for warmth. 5 No one felt sorry for you or had compassion on you or did anything to help you. Instead, your parents abandoned you, tossed you out into an open field. For on the day you were born, people looked upon you with deep contempt.
6 Then I passed by and saw you squirming around in your blood. As you lay there in your own blood, I said to you, “Live!” Again, I insisted, “Live!” 7 And that’s exactly what you did. I helped you flourish like plants in the field. In time you grew, became a tall, beautiful young woman: your breasts developed and your hair grew thick and long. But you were still naked and bare. 8 I passed by you again and saw you were old enough to love and to be loved, so I offered Myself to you in marriage. I wrapped my garment over you to cover your nakedness. Then I gave you My divine promise to always be your Beloved, and I entered the sacred covenant of marriage with you. I wed you, and you became Mine. 9 I bathed you with pure water and washed away the old blood from your skin, and then I anointed you with fragrant oils. 10 I dressed you in an embroidered gown and put the finest leather sandals on your feet. I gave you the most luxurious linens and exquisite garments. 11 I decorated you with the most expensive jewelry: bracelets for your wrists and a necklace for your neck, 12 a nose ring, costly earrings, and a stunning crown for your head. 13 I adorned you with everything a woman could wish for: gold and silver, the finest clothes of linen, silk, and embroidery. You dined on elegant meals made with fine flour, honey, and olive oil. You became a beautiful woman and carried yourself as a queen! 14 You became famous among the nations for your extraordinary beauty—beauty that flourished only because I lavished My splendor on you.
So said the Eternal Lord.
Eternal One: 15 But you trusted in your own beauty and used your fame to become a whore. You slept with every man who was simply passing by.16 You made shrines for your idols out of the luxurious linens I gave to you and gave yourself to play the harlot there. Such things should never have happened and must not ever again. 17 Then you took all of the expensive gold and silver jewelry and precious stones I gave to you, and you created male images so that you could play the harlot with them! 18-19 You took the embroidered gown I gave you to clothe your male images. Then you took other gifts I had given to you—oil, incense, bread, fine flour, and honey—and you offered them all as a pleasing aroma to your idols. This is what happened, I, the Eternal Lord proclaim. 20 Then you took your sons and daughters—the ones you bore to Me—and slaughtered them, sacrificing your precious children to your idols to be consumed! Wasn’t your prostitution enough? 21 You killed My children and sacrificed them to breathless idols as burnt offerings! 22 Not once during all this prostitution and other shocking deeds did you remember your youth when I found you naked and bare, squirming in your own blood!
23 To top off all your wickedness—how bad it will be for you, I, the Eternal Lord, promise you— 24 you built yourselves sacred sites and put lofty shrines in every public square. 25 You put them on every street corner and degraded your priceless beauty, opening yourself up wide to every man who passed by to add yet another lover. 26 Then you started whoring with your well-endowed Egyptian neighbors, and I became more and more angry with your escalating promiscuity. 27 Finally, I reached out and struck you, decreasing your territory. I handed you over to your enemies, the Philistines, to do with you as they pleased. Even they were embarrassed by your lascivious behavior! 28 You even started whoring it up with the Assyrians because your lust could not be satisfied. But even after you prostituted yourself, you still weren’t satisfied! 29 So you prostituted yourself to Chaldea, the land of merchants, but that still wasn’t enough to satisfy you.
30 How sick is your heart as you instigate all these vile perversions, the deeds of a brazen harlot? 31 When you built your shrines in every public square and constructed lofty shrines on every street corner, you were different from most prostitutes because you wouldn’t take money for your favors. 32 Adulterous wife! You would rather sleep with a stranger than your own husband! 33 Whores are glad to accept fees from their customers, but you are the one paying fees and giving gifts to bribe strangers to come to you. 34 So you are the perverse opposite of all other whores. No one solicits your services, and you pay instead of taking their money! This is why you are so different.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I gave strong words to Ezekiel to describe the abhorrent behavior of My people in Judah. Their chasing after idols, their lust for money, their constant desire for personal pleasure and power is not unlike your world today. You seem to chase after everything but Me. When will you realize that what’s really important are the things that last into eternity. And those things are relationships with Me and fellow believers. Nothing else can survive the crucible of the refiners fire as you pass from this life to the next.

Grasping for what this world thinks important only results in frustration, disappointment and ultimate destruction. Remember Ezekiel’s description of those who tried to gain worldly success. Then remember what I told you, “Where your heart is, there your treasure will be also.” Keep your heart centered on Me, the only treasure worth finding. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.