Category Archives: Christian

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

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

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

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

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

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

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

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

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.

The Lamb is worthy (Revelation 5), August 31, 2015

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 5

Set – Ezekiel 14; Revelation 5

Go! – Ezekiel 12-14; Revelation 5

Revelation 5
¹ And then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated upon the throne, a scroll written both on the inside and on the outside. It had been sealed with seven seals. ² Then a mighty heavenly messenger proclaimed with a loud voice,
Mighty Messenger: Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?
³ No creature of creation in all heaven, on all the earth, or even under the earth could open the scroll or look into its mysteries. ⁴ Then I began to mourn and weep bitterly because no creature of creation was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into its mysteries. ⁵ Then one of the elders consoled me.
One of the 24 Elders: Stop weeping. Look there—the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David. He has conquered and is able to break its seven seals and open the scroll.
⁶I looked, and between the throne and the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders stood a Lamb who appeared to have been slaughtered. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes (the eyes are the seven Spirits of God sent out over all the earth).
⁷ The Lamb came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated upon the throne. ⁸ And when He took it, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders fell prostrate before the Lamb. They worshiped Him, and each one held a harp and golden bowls filled with incense (the prayers of God’s holy people). ⁹ Then they sang a new song.
Four Living Creatures and 24 Elders: You are worthy to receive the scroll,
to break its seals,
Because You were slain. With Your blood, You redeemed for God
people from every tribe and language, people from every race and nation.
¹⁰ You have made them a kingdom; You have appointed them priests to serve our God,
and they will rule upon the earth.
¹¹ When I looked again, I heard the voices of heavenly messengers (numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands). They surrounded the throne, the living creatures, and the elders.
¹² Thousands of Messengers (with a great voice): Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.
Worthy is the Lamb to receive authority and wealth and wisdom and greatness
And honor and glory and praise.
¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and beneath the earth and in the sea and all things in them echoing the messengers.
Every Creature: To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
Be blessing and honor and glory and power
Throughout the ages.
¹⁴ And the four living creatures kept on repeating:
Four Living Creatures: Amen. Amen.
And the elders fell down and worshiped [Him who lives forever].

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

John saw in great symbolism the role I played as the Lion of Judah and the Lamb slain for the salvation of the world. As the Lion of Judah, I am conqueror of all the kingdoms of the earth. I am the King of kings and Lord of lords. I reign over all nations and every leader is allowed to rule only by My permission. I am the final authority for all that takes place throughout the earth. The Father has given that authority to His Son.

As the Lamb, slaughtered as the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of your sins, I stand between you and the Father to cover your sins with My blood. He sees My blood, not your sin when you come through Me for forgiveness. As the perfect sacrifice, you no longer required the annual sacrifice of lambs and goats to atone for your sins. I have completed the acts for you. I have done all that is required. All you need to do is believe in Me enough to follow Me and do what I ask.

John also saw all of heaven bowing to both the Lamb and the Father as one because we are one – Father, Son, and Spirit. John heard all creation in heaven and earth singing praises to the Lamb and bowing to Him because of who He is and what He has done for all creation. The praise never stops. The singing never ends. The adoration grows beyond measure. The worship goes on and on because the One who sits on the throne and the Lamb are worthy of blessing and honor and glory and power.

Why don’t you stop for a few moments and share in the celebration.

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.

Heaven is waiting (Revelation 4), August 30, 2015

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 4

Set – Ezekiel 11; Revelation 4

Go! – Ezekiel 8-11; Revelation 4

Revelation 4
¹ After I wrote down these messages, I saw a door standing open in heaven and heard again the first voice that sounded like a trumpet.
A Voice: Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.
² Immediately I was caught up in the Spirit, and I saw a throne that stood in heaven and One seated on the throne. ³ The One enthroned gleamed like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow encircled the throne with an emerald glow. ⁴ Encircling that great throne were twenty-four smaller thrones with twenty-four elders clothed in white robes with wreaths fashioned of gold on their heads. ⁵ Out of the great throne came flashes of lightning, sounds of voices, and peals of thunder. In front of the great throne, seven torches were ablaze, which are the seven Spirits of God. ⁶ Also in front of the throne was a glassy sea of shimmering crystal.
In the midst of the throne and encircling the throne were four living creatures, covered all over with eyes, front to back. ⁷ The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature was like an ox, the third creature had a face like the face of a human, and the fourth creature was like an eagle in full flight. ⁸ These four living creatures, each of which had six wings and was covered with eyes—eyes on the outside and on the inside—did not cease chanting. All day and night they were singing.
Four Living Creatures: Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God who is the All Powerful,
who was, and who is, and who is coming.
⁹ And when the living creatures declared glory and honor and thanksgiving to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives throughout all the ages, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fell prostrate before the One seated on the throne, worshiped the One who lives throughout all the ages, cast their golden wreaths before the throne, and chanted to Him.
¹¹ 24 Elders: Worthy are You, O Lord; worthy are You, O God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
You alone created all things,
and through Your will and by Your design, they exist and were created.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

John got a glimpse of what was to come at the end of time. He saw a part of heaven few have witnessed. I allowed him to see My throne so he could share with My children some of their future. I wanted to give you a small vision of the future I have in store for you to give you hope in the desparate times you might face because of your faith. You see, I promised you will face trouble and misunderstanding and persecution as long as you live in this world. But in the world to come, the blessings are so far beyond your imagination, you will find your sufferings as nothing compared to those riches.

The first thing people see when they see My throne is the creature surrounding Me singing praises to Me. They can’t help it. It’s the natural response to who I am. John saw it when he peeked into heaven. He saw the flying creatures singing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” The 24 elders seated around My throne also sang praises to Me. They, too, couldn’t do anything else. All who see Me burst out in praise.

The throneroom is filled with sounds and sights that are impossible to describe with words. John tried, but fell short. The rainbow of colors he describes doesn’t give it justice. The sound of voices and peel of thunder fails to give an adequate representation of what he saw. There are lots of stories about heaven. They give people hope about what is to come. The best source, though, is My word. Listen to what John says about it. Listen to what David says about it. Read what Daniel and Ezekiel say about it. Listen to My words about heaven as I spoke to My disciples.

Heaven is a special place. It’s My home and I want you to share it with Me. How do you get there? Obey Me. That’s it. It’s as simple as that. I’ve been preparing it for you for a long time. It’s your decision whether to come or not. Admission is by reservation only and reservations come through obedience. I want to see you there.

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.

Two letters, two paths (Revelation 3:7-22), August 29, 2015

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 3:7-22

Set – Ezekiel 5; Revelation 3

Go! – Ezekiel 4-7; Revelation 3

Revelation 3:7-22
⁷ Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Philadelphia. “These are the words of the holy One, the true One, and the One who possesses the key of David, which opens the possibilities so that no one can shut them. The One who closes all options so that no one can open:
⁸ “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut. I have done this because you have limited strength, yet you have obeyed My word and have not denied My name. ⁹ Watch, and I will make those of the congregation of Satan—those who call themselves ‘Jews’ but are not because they lie—come before you penitent, falling at your feet. Then they will know how much I have loved you. ¹⁰ Because you have obeyed My instructions to endure and be patient, I will protect you from the time of trial which will come upon the whole earth and put everyone in it to the test. ¹¹ I will soon return. Hold tight to what you have so that no one can take away your victor’s wreath.
¹² “As for the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death, I will plant that person as a pillar in the temple of My God, and that person will never have to leave the presence of God. Moreover, I will inscribe this person with the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, New Jerusalem—which descends out of heaven from My God—and My own new name.
¹³ “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.”
Letter to Laodicea
¹⁴ Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Laodicea. “These are the words of the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation:
¹⁵ “I know your works. You are neither cold with apathy nor hot with passion. It would be better if you were one or the other, but you are neither. ¹⁶ So because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷ You claim, ‘I am rich, I have accumulated riches, and I need nothing’; but you do not realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked. ¹⁸ So here is what I suggest you do: buy true gold from Me (gold refined by fire so that you can be truly rich), white garments (to cover you so that you can keep the shame of your nakedness from showing), and eye ointment (to treat your eyes so that you may see clearly).
¹⁹“Those I love I also correct and discipline. Therefore, be shamelessly committed to Me, and turn back.²⁰ Now pay attention; I am standing at the door and knocking. If any of you hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to visit with you and to share a meal at your table, and you will be with Me.
²¹ “The one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death I will place next to Me on My throne, just as I Myself conquered and took a place of honor with My Father on His throne.
²² “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.”

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The two letters, one to Philadephia and one to Laodicea, provide contrasts in the churches and in the choices you can make. The letters also give the two different outcomes for the choices you make. Those in Philadelphia chose to obey My commands and were commended for their faithfulness. Consequently, they will find themselves protected from the trials to come to all humanity at My final coming. They will escape the wrath I will bring on the world. They will find themselves transported to My temple in heaven to be in My presence forever.

The other choice looks like the church in Laodicea. You can, like them, choose a lukewarm life. Not quite the cold of apathy or the heat of passion, but just hanging around playing church. Attending. Pretending to love Me by saying the right words. Giving of a little of your time and treasure, but never so much at it would inconvenience you. Pretending to know Me, but only knowing about Me. Those I will spew out of My mouth. Those will have no part in My kingdom.

You can make those around you think everything is alright between us, but you and I know the real state of our relationship. Which choice have you made? Do you obey like those in Philadelphia or are you lukewarm like those in the church at Laodicea? You choose your path, your path determines your destiny. Two letters, two paths, two destinies. 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.

Stay on track (Ezekiel 3:1-15), August 28, 2015

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ezekiel 3:1-15

Set – Ezekiel 3; Revelation 2

Go! – Ezekiel 1-3; Revelation 2

Ezekiel 3:1-15
The Voice (to Ezekiel): ¹ Son of man, eat what you find here—consume the scroll you see before you. Then go and preach to the people of Israel.
² So I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll.
The Voice: ³ Son of man, swallow this scroll I am giving you, and let it fill your stomach.
So I ate it, and these words of God tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
The Voice: ⁴ Son of man, go to the people of Israel and preach My message to them. ^5-6 You are not being sent to a far away nation with an unintelligible language. I am sending you to the people of Israel. But if I had sent you to foreign peoples with unintelligible languages, surely they would listen to you. ⁷ But the people of Israel will refuse to listen to you because they refuse to listen to Me. As I told you, the Israelites are a hard-headed, stubborn-hearted people. ⁸ But I have set your jaw just as tightly and furrowed your brow just as deeply as theirs. ⁹ I have made your head as hard as any rock. Do not be scared or intimidated by them, even though they are a rebellious lot.
¹⁰ Son of man, take to heart all the words I am speaking to you. Listen carefully to what I am saying. ¹¹ Now go to your people, the exiles in Babylonia, and give them My message. Proclaim to them, “This is what the Eternal Lord has to say.” It doesn’t matter whether they listen to you.
¹² Suddenly the Spirit picked me up, and I heard a loud rumbling sound behind me—it seemed to say, “May the glory of the Eternal One be praised in His holy place!” ¹³ The sound I heard was the sound made by the wings of the four living creatures brushing up against one another and the rumble made by the spinning wheels beside them. ¹⁴ The Spirit picked me up and carried me away. I was at once resentful and impassioned, but I couldn’t escape because the hold the Eternal had on me was strong.
¹⁵ The Spirit took me to a group of the exiles who lived by the Chebar Canal at Tel-abib. I sat there among them in a daze for seven days.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Have you ever thought I’ve given you a mission too hard for you? Think again. I’ll never do that. When you think I’ve given you a difficult task just think about what I asked Ezekiel to do. I sent him to prophesy to the exiles stipped away from their homes and taken into captivity by the Assyrians. I told him in advance the people I told him to speak to would not listen. They wouldn’t pay attention to him. Even though I gave Ezekiel the right message, they would never listen to him.

I told Ezekiel he would preach to a group of people who were rebellious, hard-headed, and would not change. But his mission was to tell them My truth. He was not responsible for their decisions, but was responsible to give them My message. Those Ezekiel spoke to would ridicule him for the visions he shared with them. They would call him foolish. They would think him insane. They would think he had lost his mind. The vision I gave Ezekiel would not make sense to them or to Ezekiel. But it was My message to the people to whom I would send him .

Only years later would the prophecies Ezekiel gave to the exiles make sense. Only as they came to fruition would the prophecies and the visions begin to take hold and Ezekiel know the honor he deserved. But it wouldn’t be in his lifetime.

I might give you tasks that won’t make sense to you, too. That doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing. Years later the exiles and My people who saw My prophecies fulfilled understood that Ezekiel spoke the truth and My message became clear to them. The same may happen with the task I give you. Those around you may not understand at the moment, but one day all will make sense. One day you will look back and know that all I’ve asked you to do had a purpose that brings glory to Me.

Don’t worry if people don’t understand you. Don’t worry if they don’t make the decisions you think are right. Don’t worry if they ridicule you or think you foolish. Don’t worry if they persecute you, throw you into prison, or even take your life. Many have gone before you under such extremes and discovered My rewards are well worth it. As Paul told you, you cannot imagine the glory before you. The sufferings of this life will seem as nothing compared to the riches that await you.

Just continue to do what I ask you to do. Stay on track and keep the faith.

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.

Learn from David’s prayer (Psalm 144), August 27, 2015

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 144

Set – Psalms 144; Revelation 1

Go! – Jeremiah 52; Psalms 143-144; Revelation 1

Psalms 144
¹ Blessed be the Eternal, my rock.
He trains my hands for war, gives me the skills I need for battle.
² He is my unfailing love and my citadel.
He is my tower of strength and my deliverer.
He is my shield of protection and my shelter;
He holds my people in check under me.
³ O Eternal One, what is man, that You even care to know him?
or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
⁴ Humans are like a passing breath;
their time on earth is like a shadow that passes over us during the day and soon is gone.
⁵ Eternal One, stretch out an opening in the heavens, and descend.
Touch the mountains, and make them smoke.
⁶ Send forth bolts of lightning, and scatter my enemies.
Shoot Your fiery arrows, and rout the enemy.
⁷ Reach down from Your high place;
save me out of the great waters;
rescue me from the grasp of these foreigners
⁸ Who speak only lies
and don’t have truth in their deeds.
⁹ To You, my God, I will sing a new song;
I will sing Your sweet praises to the sound of a ten-stringed harp,
¹⁰ For You deliver kings from their enemies
and You rescue Your servant, David, from the sword of evil.
¹¹ Rescue me,
and save me from the grasp of these foreigners
Who speak only lies
and don’t have truth in their deeds.
¹² May our sons be like healthy plants
as they grow and mature,
And may our daughters be like the corner pillars
that decorate a palace.
¹³ May our storehouses be full
with abundant supplies of every crop,
And may the flocks of our fields
multiply into thousands and tens of thousands!
¹⁴ May our cattle be strong and productive,
without miscarriage, without loss,
and may there be no riots or protests in our streets!
¹⁵ Happy are the people for whom all this is true;
happy are the people whose God is the Eternal!

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Did you notice David’s pattern of prayer in his psalm? He recognized who I am. He asked for protection. He praised Me again. He asked for protection. He gives a blessing to My people. That’s not a bad way to think about prayer. Praise and blessings need to outweigh your petitions. But then, when you focus your attention on Me, it will.

As you walk with Me, you’ll find your prayers turning that direction. It’s not that I’m not interested in your petitions. I am. I’m interested in every aspect of your life. But you’ll find that the closer you walk with Me, you’ll become more interested in My plans than yours. You’ll want to know more about what I want from you than what you want from Me. You’ll begin to see the world around you from a whole new perspective. You begin to see with kingdom eyes.

I told you that you would be in the world but not of the world. You’ll see the world with My eyes. You’ll see it’s needs. You’ll see it’s evil. You’ll see it’s false wisdom. You’ll see it’s idolatry. You’ll see it’s selfishness. You’ll see it running toward hell.

You will see My tears as I cry for My creation and long for souls to listen to My followers. You’ll see My tears as those who say they believe in Me sit on the side lines and watch passively as thousands around them race past them oblivious to the fact that they are destined for destruction. You’ll see why I sorrow as you observe the spiritual state of humankind. And you’ll long to do something about it.

Like David and My prophets you will pray. You will ask Me to intervene and praise Me for what I’ve done for you. You will recognize My power to save and sing praises because of it. You will ask Me to help you stop the flood of people rushing toward destruction and praise Me for using you in whatever way I choose to do so. You will ask Me to bless all who are part of My plan to share the message of salvation and pour out your heart to Me in thanksgiving because of who I am and what I do for you each day.

Walk with Me and watch your prayer life change. David’s did. All My followers change because I won’t let you stay the way you are. I want you to become more like Me. Dig in and learn from 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.

Be careful how you treat God’s children (Jeremiah 51:1-19), August 26, 2015

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Jeremiah 51:1-19

Set – Jeremiah 51; 3 John

Go! – Jeremiah 50-51; 3 John

Jeremiah 51:1-19
¹The Eternal has this to say regarding Babylon:
Eternal One: Watch as I stir up a destroying wind
against Babylon and the people of Chaldea.
² I will send outsiders to sift through this nation,
separating the wheat from the chaff, laying waste this land.
They will fight her from every side
on that fateful day of Babylon’s reckoning.
³ Do not let the archers draw back their bows.
Do not let them put on their armor!
Do not spare the life of one young soldier.
Destroy her army completely.
⁴ They will all fall dead in the land of the Chaldeans;
her streets will be full of the dead and dying.
⁵ For Israel and Judah have not been forsaken
by their God, the Eternal One, Commander of heavenly armies,
Even though their land is awash with the guilt of their sins
against the Holy One of Israel.
⁶ Get out of Babylon! Escape with your lives!
Do not be caught up in Babylon’s punishment,
For this is the time for the Eternal to avenge His people.
He will pay Babylon what she deserves.
⁷ Babylon has been a golden cup in the Eternal’s hand,
intoxicating the whole earth.
Yes, the nations drank her wine,
which is why they went mad.
⁸ But now Babylon—cup of God’s wrath—has fallen and shattered.
Weep for her, if you can!
Give her something for her pain;
perhaps she may still be healed.
⁹ Exiles: We would like to have healed Babylon,
but she was beyond our help.
It is time to leave her and go home before it is too late,
before we get caught in her coming judgment.
Look, even now it fills the skies, rising up to the clouds.
¹⁰ The Eternal has vindicated us;
come, we must tell those in Jerusalem
What the Eternal our God has done!
¹¹ Enemies of Babylon, sharpen your arrows
and fill your quivers. Get ready to attack!
For the Eternal has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes
to accomplish His purpose against Babylon.
He will exact His vengeance for what the Chaldeans did to His temple.
¹² Raise up the battle flags around the walls of Babylon!
Reinforce the guard. Station watchmen along the way.
Prepare to make a surprise attack, for the Eternal will see His plan carried through
against the people of Babylon.
¹³ You who live by the great river
with the comforts of your abundant treasure,
The end has come, and you will lose it all.
Your time has run out.
¹⁴ The Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has sworn by Himself.
Eternal One: I will cover your land with enemy troops
the way a swarm of locusts covers a field.
And they will shout victory over you.
¹⁵ God alone is powerful enough to create the earth.
He alone is wise enough to put the world together.
He alone understands enough to stretch out the heavens.
¹⁶ His voice thunders through the heavens, and the waters gush from the sky.
He summons the clouds to build up over the earth.
As the rain falls, the lightning flashes at His command;
the wind rushes in from where He alone can store it.
¹⁷ All of humanity is stupid and bankrupt of knowledge.
Those who make idols are shamed by their creations.
What they fashion out of gold are imposters—breathless, lifeless frauds.
¹⁸ Their idols are worthless, the work of their hands an embarrassing mockery.
They are doomed to perish under God’s judgment.
¹⁹ The portion of Jacob is not like any of these.
He was not fashioned by human hands.
Instead, it was He who made all things and appointed Israel to inherit it all.
His name is the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I used Babylon to punish the nations who turned against Me. I enabled them to conquer every nation they came against. Judah was one of those nations because My people forgot Me. They turned to idols instead of worshiping Me, so I used Babylon to destroy the kingdom they thought so mighty and important. Babylon came in and crushed Judah and their capital city of Jerusalem in short order.

Babylon became arrogant, though. They became drunk with their power and thought their power came from their hand instead of Mine. Nebuchadnezzar thought himself king of creation because of his exploits. So I had Jeremiah remind him that I was still in charge. I reminded him I would rule over creation and all the nations of the world as I see fit. The Babylonians would find themselves defeated and destroyed the same way they destroyed others.

The great cities would fall. Nebuchadnezzar’s enemies would trample his great wonders into dust. Just as he carried off prize possessions and the healthiest and wisest into captivity, so would the Medes and Persians carry away all the spoils they chose and put into chains anyone they decided. Because Babylon and its leaders thought themselves more important than Me, they would feel the brunt of My wrath.

So you might ask, “What’s the point of this story for us today? Why include these verses for our study?” My answer is, be careful how you treat My children. Who are My children? All My creation. Everyone I breathe life into has a living soul I long to answer My call for salvation. I know that not all will, but you don’t know who will and who will not. Be careful how you treat My children. All of them are Mine. I don’t want you to end up like the Babylonians.

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.