Reach the Lost

Today’s Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 42-44; Revelation 22

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:

Topic: Second Coming

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation 22: 7, 12, 20

Jesus says repeatedly, “I am coming soon!”:

⁷ "Behold, I am coming soon!..."  (Rev 22:7 NIV)

¹² "Behold, I am coming soon!...  (Rev 22:12 NIV)

²⁰ … "Yes, I am coming soon."  (Rev 22:20 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

What an exciting and energizing word this is from the Lord Jesus himself! Jesus IS coming again. This reality makes me think of two things:

APPLICATION:

First, the joyous actuality of Jesus physically coming to set this world right again is, in Shakespearean terms, “a consummation devoutly to be wished.” By receiving Christ as Savior and Lord the curse has already been lifted from my soul, but then it will finally be lifted from creation as well.

Secondly, it gives me a renewed sense of urgency to reach out to lost people before Jesus comes to finalize everything. Then it will be too late; for then will be the time for judgment.  

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, help me reach the lost for You. Show me the ways and means. In Your name. Amen  –AP

The Goal

Today’s Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 40-41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:

Topic: Salvation

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation 21:1-8

¹ Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ² Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

⁶ And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ⁷ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Rev 21:1-8 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

Verse 7 of this passage has to be the goal:

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

John is talking about the new heaven and new earth (v.1)—life after this earthly life. This life is like a proving ground. Will I spend this life toiling and treading and never discovering the key? Will I spend this life selfishly pursuing the comforts of this life with no thought of the next? If I do, then this life will be a waste and I will be eternally lost.

However…

APPLICATION:

If I overcome in this life—that is discovering the key is relationship with the Lord now and spending this life not for this lifetime but for the next—then God will be my God forevermore and I will be His son. That is the goal in this life!

PRAYER:

Lord, thank You that in You I can be an overcomer no matter what comes my way in this life, and that I may eternally be Your son. Through Christ. Amen  –AP

My Name In Jesus’ Book

Today’s Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 38-39; Revelation 20

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:

Topic: Judgment

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation 20:15

¹¹ …I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. ¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:11-15 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

The “lake of fire” we are told, is the second death (v.14). The second death is the sentence given to those whose names are not recorded in the “Lamb’s (Jesus’) book of life” (Rev 21:27). This is the final judgment after Satan has been cast to the second death—the lake of fire (v. 10). It is of eternal importance to every human being to see to it that their name is written in Jesus’ book!  

APPLICATION:

Revelation 20 seems to indicate that everything I have ever done, good or bad, has been recorded in “books.” According to what I have done I will be judged. If this is the only way I am judged, then I am doomed, because I have certainly fallen short. My deeds prove me deserving of the second death! The only thing that will redeem me is if my name is recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. If my name is found there then either I will become exempt from the judgment of the other books, or else when the other books are opened, all of my indiscretions will be found to have been erased or blotted out. 

PRAYER:

Hallelujah! Thank You Jesus, the Lamb! Amen.  –AP

Don’t Take God’s Glory

Today’s Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 36-37; Revelation 19

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:

Topic: Worship

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation 19:10

At this I fell at his (the angel’s) feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! (Rev 19:10 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

This is a strong word to worship God only! There are good men and good angels who bring good messages and may do great deeds. Praise God for them, but do not afford them honor that is due only to God. If they are truly servants of the Lord, they will shun that type of praise and worship.  

APPLICATION:

Do I crave the adulation of men? When I receive accolades, do I receive them for myself or do I truly direct all glory to God?

PRAYER:

Father God I love You and worship You alone. My life—my joy—my fulfillment is to be Your servant. Forgive me when I covet the acclaim of people. May I ever be reminded to return all glory to You. All that I have, all that I do, all that I accomplish is due to Your graciousness. Help me remember that.

Through Christ. Amen.  -AP

Warning! Warning!

Today’s Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 33-35; Revelation 18

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:

Topic: Responsibility

SCRIPTURE:  Ezekiel 33:8-9

⁷ "So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. ⁸ When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. ⁹ Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.  (Ezekiel 33:7-9 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

This passage describes Ezekiel’s responsibility as one called by God to be a “watchman” over Israel. There is a double warning here. The wicked are warned to turn from their iniquity or face the consequences: “you shall surely die!” (v. 8). The watchman is warned to issue the warning to the wicked or face the consequences: “his blood I will require at your hand” (v. 8).

APPLICATION:

This admonition to “the watchman” is an admonition to me as a pastor. The Gospel message of Jesus Christ is life and fulfillment to those who will receive it, and a strong warning to all others. My job is to see that people I am charged to watch over hear the message and are warned. I am not responsible for the results, just the message. However, if I fail to deliver the message to those I am charged with, then I am responsible for their loss.

PRAYER:

Lord, show me clearly the extent of my assignment as a watchman and pastor. Give me boldness with compassion to deliver your message. Holy Spirit, cause that message to be received and accepted. May not one be lost on my watch.

Through Christ. Amen.  -AP

Life Is In and for God

Today’s Bible Reading:  Daniel 3-4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading: 

Topic: Commitment

SCRIPTURE:  Daniel 3:17-18

¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? ¹⁵ Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?"

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

(Dan 3:14-18 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

This well known story about three Hebrew boys in exile in Babylon accentuates the value of unwavering commitment to God. King Nebuchadnezzar not only threatens Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego with a fiery execution if they will not worship the golden image he has erected to his god, but he directly challenges their God. At the end of verse 15 he essentially boasts that no god is big enough to deliver them from his hands. Their answer to the king in verses 17 and 18 in the face of such an edict is extraordinary: “…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.” What a powerful example of faith, trust and commitment!

APPLICATION:

This passage speaks to me of the importance of not compromising my beliefs in God, nor my commitment to follow His ways NO MATTER WHAT! God will deliver me; and if not, I will die believing in Him, worshipping Him, and serving Him (see v.18).

PRAYER:

My Father God, thank you for the joy I receive in serving you. Thank you for giving my life purpose and meaning. Help me to always trust you no matter what circumstances may confront me. May the end of my earthly days see me serving you, my Lord and my God whom I love. Through Christ. Amen.  -AP

Antithesis of Living Water

Today’s Bible Reading:  Daniel 1-2; Revelation 16

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:

Topic: Judgment

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation 16:3-4

                

³ Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.

⁴ Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. (Rev 16:3-4 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

When I was pastor of a church in West Texas, the name we gave our church was “Living Water.” The symbol of water has rich spiritual meaning, and in West Texas water takes on an additional significance. Drought is the norm for the high plains surrounding Brownfield, Texas. The people who live there understand the importance of water more than most. Water is necessary for life, which is why it is such a rich spiritual symbol. Jesus provides us with “Living Water”—that is, eternal life.

These verses in Revelation are describing the antithesis of Living Water. I learned long ago as a school boy that the closest thing in nature to blood is sea water. It contains all the minerals of life yet one cannot survive drinking it. We must have fresh water. God’s judgment is shown in these verses to not only render fresh water useless, it also takes the life out of the sea as well. It isn’t just turned to blood, it is turned to lifeless, “dead” blood (v. 3). It is the picture of existence without Christ.

APPLICATION:

The application is clear. In order to survive God’s judgment, we must partake of the Living Water—we must accept and receive Jesus Christ. To deny Christ is to cut off one’s self from the source of life. In the high plains people have learned to do with scarce water, but even West Texans could not survive with no water.

PRAYER:

Lord, help me to take the Living Water to as many as I can; that, when all else is drought, they will yet have the Living Water within them.

Through Christ. Amen.  -AP