December 9
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“Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring — those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.”  (Revelation 12:17, NIV)

The book of Revelation’s bold and graphic metaphors might discourage some of us from looking into it’s central message: The ultimate state of God’s creation.

The devil and his demons wage war against all that is of God.  Scripture tells us that the devil’s goal is to kill, steal, and to destroy.  He failed in his rebellion against God before the creation of the world.  He failed again in his efforts to keep Jesus from His mission to be the Redeemer of God’s creation.

As we await the return and “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (which is the the full title of the book we commonly know as “the book of Revelation”), the devil wages “war against the rest of her [the church’s] offspring”: Those who keep God’s commands and hold fast to their testimony about Jesus.

Each new day brings challenges to our commitment to obey God and to proclaim Jesus in deeds and in words.  Do not fear.  Do not fret.  Stand firm for all that is true, and good, and worthy of the approval of our heavenly Father.  – Luther

 

 

 

 

 

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December 8
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“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.  For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”  (1 John 3:1, NASB)

The scriptures tell us that a pupil is not above his or her teacher.  If the teacher suffers the slings and arrows of ignorant people, the pupil should expect nothing less.

Jesus is God in human flesh, blood, and bone.  He came because God loved the world; but the world did not return His love.  The world preferred its ways to God’s ways.  The world preferred its gods to the one true, living, God.

The evidence of God’s love is the gift to us of His own name.  As His children, we are His heirs; and as His heirs, all that came to Jesus has also been set-aside for you and me.

With this in mind, always live a life worthy of the Name you’ve been given.  Our heavenly Father’s good name may not always be honored on this earth, but the mere whisper of it anywhere in the universe makes available to us every blessing and gift from heaven!  – Luther

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December 6
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“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”  (1 Peter 3:8, NIV)

Whether in the human family into which we were born, or the spiritual family of God into which we both chose and were chosen; success depends on: Showing compassion.

Nothing dries-up the wells of compassion faster than the notion that a person in trouble — or a troubled person, for that matter — deserves whatever it is that’s got them by the throat.  The fact of the matter is that at one time or another, we’ve all been in a tough spot; and we’ve greatly appreciated it when someone — anyone — has been moved to give us a hand-up, or a hand-out.

Many of us are only a few bad decisions from poverty.  All of us are only a heartbeat away from death.  An honest look at our common, fragile condition may yet open again the wells of compassion.  – Luther

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