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 Revelation 12 - Rely on the King - Believe in Jesus and Love One Another

        As we read Revelation 12 I'm reminded this morning of the need to interpret Scripture with Scripture and that it's God's purpose that prevails.  Thank God!

        In persecution and times of trial, we are to rely on God alone (2 Chronicles 13:18 and James 1).  To be effective we increase our faith and trust in Him whom He has sent (John 6:28-29).  We are qualified and acceptable to God because of what our Shepherd has done for us.  Jesus rescued and brought us out of darkness and into the Kingdom of Light.  Christ is indeed King - we'll discuss the power of His Kingship in the next blog.  Now, as we await the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:9-10) may we make it our ambition to please our King, not men.

        We are sometimes tempted to shamelessly predict and speculate about all sorts of things.  In our pride, we think we know better than our gracious God.  God willing, we will please Him by how we care about making disciples and obeying God’s command to love one another.

        Our business will be good and just and faithful because it is aligned with God and His righteous ways.  Don’t fall for the temptation to preach doom and gloom.  Let's stop trying to predict doomsday based on every negative thing we read in the press.  Let's stop trying to do what God says we shall not do: pretending we know the hour and the day of His return.  Revelation was given to bless, inform, and warn the first-century church about imminent events - and yes, future events too, but mostly imminent events (Rev.1:1 and 3; 4:1 22:6 and 10). Revelation opens and closes with John writing that the time is near - not far.  The Apostle John chastises the seven churches, but the message is also one of perseverance and encouragement, encouragement.  It is not a message intended to depress, discourage, and create fear.  Yet many have created a cottage industry of fear.

        Dear Jesus, please give us every faculty to know and love You more.  Help us to focus on good things today and to commit to obeying You.  Please help us to love justice and mercy, and to be the real deal, not hypocrites.  Help us be disciplined and grow in godliness as You grow Your church, the fruit-producing nation (Matthew 21:43).  May we walk steadfastly today as we await Your final return.  Please give us the courage to be good and faithful and loving servants today.  Amen. 


We've been trying to have at least one date night with our grandkids per week.  Here Arch and Kari are making Banana Boats.

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