Week 25, Day 5: Sweet as Honey
Today’s Reading: Revelation 11:1-12:17
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
In Revelation 10:8-11, John was told to take a little book and to eat it. This is quite similar to images portrayed by other prophets, depicting the consumption of the will or word of God. John relates to us that the book was sweet as honey in his mouth, but was bitter in his stomach. This depicts for us the nature of the word of God, at least in many instances. The word is sweet, simply because it is the will of God. However, it can be a “bitter pill to swallow” because of its consequences. The word of God demands that we make changes in order to be faithful to God. There are many who simply have no desire to make those changes. But, in John’s case, the word was bitter because of the judgement that it foretold. The same thing can be true today. The word of God is sweet, but when we stop to think about the consequences it can be very bitter for us. How can we think about the many people around us who will be lost due to their disobedience, and not be driven to go out and teach them so that they can have the same hope that we have? We should do everything we can to cause people to make the changes that are necessary so that they do not suffer the wrath of God. If we are successful, maybe a bit of that “bitterness” can be taken away!
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Week 25, Day 4: Praise the Lord!
Today’s Reading: Revelation 9:1-10:11
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
Sometimes reading scripture reminds us how completely inadequate we are in various aspects of our Christian lives. One area that many of us could (and should) improve on is in our praise of God. Often, our time is consumed with what we want to gain from God. What can he provide for us? How can He make our lives better? We forget to give Him the praise and honor due Him.
We are shown a vision as seen by John, which relates the praising of God before His throne in Heaven (Revelation 7:12). Even though this is a short verse, it is filled with the same kind of praise and honor that we should be giving to God each and every day of our lives! Everything about the praise offered here is centered upon God and His greatness, not upon man or his needs. God knows what we need, even before we ask. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ask for what we do need, as He wants us to do that as well. But, if we would spend more time in praise before Him, perhaps we wouldn’t forget just how great He is!
We should work on praising God, just as He deserves to be praised. We can never give Him all that is due Him, but we should give Him all that is within our power to give.
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