Three O’s

Three O’s

Revelation 4: Surrounding the throne on each of its sides, were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and behind. ⁷ The first one looked like a lion; the second looked like a bull; the third had a face like a human face; and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight. ⁸ Each one of the four living creatures had six wings, and they were covered with eyes, inside and out. Day and night they never stop singing:

 

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
    who was, who is, and who is to come.”

 

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Hearing the ice cream truck raised my desire for the delicious cool treat. But I had a problem. I had no money!. I went into my parents room, opened up their makeshift coin bank and grabbed enough to purchase my treat. “Where did you get the money for the treat?” my parents asked. “I don’t know” was my go to lie. “How did they know I was lying?” I asked myself.

 

• My parents were not all seeing, but they could deduce when I was lying.
• My parents were not all knowing, but they knew enough to try to keep me on the right path.
• My parents were not everywhere, but they seemed to be at the right place at the right time to keep me out of trouble.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, was shown four beings that he could barely describe. His gruesome description was probably beautiful in person. These beings sang a song “day and night” about GOD’s holiness. They may represent GOD’s omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence.

 

My Observations:

• GOD is all powerful and can handle any opposition I can face.
• GOD is all seeing, so HE knows when I am sincerely serving HIM.
• GOD is everywhere, so I do not have to fear when HE sends me someplace to represent HIM.

 

Omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence are human words we give to GOD because we cannot quite explain HIM. I mean, HE always was, HE is and will always be. Our minds cannot understand this being. And what we do not understand we sometimes blow off or mislabel it.

 

GOD knows my every thought, action and desire. HE knows the bad things and erases them with HIS grace and knows the good things and rewards me generously for them. Night will go away, but until it does, the four creatures will remind us of GOD’s power.

 

Challenge

• Were you creeped out by the description the writer gives of the four creatures?
• What is your view of GOD?
• Will you remove any limits you have of GOD and place your hope in HIM to experience HIS love today?

The Center

The Center

Revelation 4: At this point I had another vision and saw an open door in heaven.

 

And the voice that sounded like a trumpet, which I had heard speaking to me before, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” ² At once the Spirit took control of me. There in heaven was a throne with someone sitting on it. ³ His face gleamed like such precious stones as jasper and carnelian, and all around the throne there was a rainbow the color of an emerald. ⁴ In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, on which were seated twenty-four elders dressed in white and wearing crowns of gold. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. In front of the throne seven lighted torches were burning, which are the seven spirits of God. ⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

 

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Science fiction became a favorite genre of mine early on. From cartoons about space travel to the movies about galaxies far away, I enjoyed the creativity. During science class, some were trying to make sense out of what was being observed. I enjoyed hearing theories of human existence. One theory was the entire universe revolved around earth.

 

• I struggled with theories that could not be truly measured.
• Theories that I learned had merit to human accomplishments, but they fell short because they left GOD out of the equation.
• Asking “What is the true center of existence?” is still being questioned by philosophers, religious leaders and scientists.

 

John, the disciple that JESUS loved, was guided by the SPIRIT into the throne room of JESUS. He could barely describe what he saw. JESUS appeared extremely different than any human depiction and everything emanated from HIS throne.

 

My Observations:

• I believe everything originates from JESUS.
• I believe GOD cares about the heavens and the earth and even the hairs on my head.
• I believe everything revolves around JESUS.

 

Seeing life from the true origin makes a huge difference. I mean, when I believe that GOD spoke everything into existence, life makes sense to me. Even the fact that everything revolving around and belonging to JESUS, helps me think of things slightly different.

 

HE is on the only throne that matters. HE is not worried and is in thorough control of everything I could imagine. HIS power is unending  and HIS glory is the highest. I cannot wait to see the true center.

 

Challenge

• Who helped the writer describe everything seen?
• Have you ever question the center of life?
• Will you consider seeing life revolving around JESUS to understand “what must happen after this” so you can be prepared?

Insults Injure

Insults Injure

2 Peter 2: These false teachers are bold and arrogant, and show no respect for the glorious beings above; instead, they insult them. ¹¹ Even the angels, who are so much stronger and mightier than these false teachers, do not accuse them with insults in the presence of the Lord. ¹² But these people act by instinct, like wild animals born to be captured and killed; they attack with insults anything they do not understand. They will be destroyed like wild animals, ¹³ and they will be paid with suffering for the suffering they have caused. Pleasure for them is to do anything in broad daylight that will satisfy their bodily appetites; they are a shame and a disgrace as they join you in your meals, all the while enjoying their deceitful ways!

 

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After learning my new found “cursing” form of language, I thought I would take it out for a spin. I used some of the language incorrectly and was laughed at, so I practiced. After a while, I was able to tear a person apart with a tapestry of insults woven with the foulest language.

 

• I felt good being able to tear people apart.
• I felt even better that my insults would make people laugh.
• I did not know I was hurting people with my insults and even worse, I was hurting myself.

 

Peter gives some hard theology about insults. When he denied his relationship with JESUS to save himself, he cursed at JESUS to act like everyone else. He knew how harmful this was because he wanted to be close to JESUS and felt he had ruined the relationship. JESUS restored Peter with a caveat… “Feed MY sheep.”

 

My Observations:

• GOD wants me to use my tongue to lift people up, not tear them down.
• Any insult I make is similar to placing it before GOD and HE is not pleased with my insults.
• I may insult and hurt someone AND GOD will see what I did and account for “my” actions.

 

Consequence is usually not considered when I make an insult. I mean, whether it is my favorite sports team or a coworker or a political party or a family member, my insults are being recorded. GOD sees insults as a problem. BUT HE has a better way.

 

GOD wants my tongue to be filled with encouragement, praise and grace. Insulting JESUS or any heavenly figure will bring GOD’s wrath on me. HE deserves my deepest praise. This requires me to remove my insults. I am glad GOD is willing ot guide me away from insults.

 

Challenge

• What is the warning of the writer?
• Have you ever been insulted?
• How did you feel after being insulted?
• Will you take steps to remove “harmless” insults from your vocabulary and say nothing instead so you will not place the insult before GOD?

Escalation

Escalation

2 Corinthians 8: ²⁰ We are being careful not to stir up any complaints about the way we handle this generous gift. ²¹ Our purpose is to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.

 

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“I’m going to tell!” was my go to set of words. This meant I could not handle the situation and I was going to escalate this to someone who could. I couldn’t fight, but I could tattle on someone. This particular day I tattled and the adult responded, “You are in trouble too.”

 

• I didn’t realize my complaint was also a problem.
• I was not careful about raising up a complaint to a higher authority.
• I could only see a path to getting “that” person in trouble and did not realize I was in trouble too.

 

Paul speaks about being very careful not to stir up complaints. But who would the people complain to? He knew that his actions needed to be above the level because GOD would see what he did and validate the complaint if it were true.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to be very careful about complaining about other people.
• GOD wants me to know HE sees and hears every deed that is done and every word spoken.
• GOD wants me to tame my tongue to speak as few complaints as possible and exchange them for praise.

 

Thinking about the complaints I have said about other people over the years is embarrassing. I mean, if I were to escalate all my complaints to GOD and “that” person would die an eternal death because of my complaint, would I really complain? No. Unfortunately, I do not take complaints seriously enough.

 

I think I can whisper a complaint to a friend and think GOD did not hear it. Satan uses complaints to make his case against each human in an attempt to steal them from GOD’s love. He can’t do it by himself, so if he can use my complaint to help him out, he would gladly do so. I am grateful GOD gives me praise as a weapon to fight my complaining tongue.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer is careful about not stirring up complaints?
• Where do you think complaints land?
• What does it look like to do “right” in the sight of the LORD in your life?
• Will you spit out your bitterness and trade your complaint in for an advocating prayer on the behalf of “that” person today?

 

Dear LORD, we apologize for raising petty complaints up to YOUR throne through the ears of other people. Please forgive us of our complaints. amen

Supremacy Looks Strange

Micah 1: ¹⁵ I will bring a conqueror against you
    who live in Mareshah.
The nobles of Israel
    will flee to Adullam.
¹⁶ Shave your head in mourning
    for the children in whom you delight;
make yourself as bald as the vulture,
    for they will go from you into exile.

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Little ball bearings were given to us to put into our gauge that listed how high the stock was climbing. After celebration number five I went back to my room for some rest. I got an emergency call in the middle of the night that all leaders need to meet immediately. The CEO was pronounced dead and everyone at the convention was shocked.

• There have been times when things seemed right and they were wrong.
• There were times when it looked like smooth sailing and the wind went out of the sails.
• There have been times when I thought everything would be great and then the rug got pulled out from under me.

“What will we do?” we all thought. Fortunately for us, the number two guy was just as good and was being groomed for the new position. I felt pretty good because he knew me. About a month or two into his service he was diagnosed with cancer and died within six months. What shall we do now?

• GOD says to me “Place your trust only in ME.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the way the truth and the life.”
• GOD says to me “Do not place any gods before ME.”

My excitement was short lived. I thought “With this new leader I can finally get ahead and help others.”  GOD had other plans. HE wanted me to understand that HE is the supreme leader and that I need to focus on HIM more and more. GOD raises up all kinds of people, BUT HE wants me to always keep my eyes on HIM.

• Are you putting your trust in someone?
• Did the trust you placed in a person not quite pan out?
• Will you stop looking at humans and start placing your trust in GOD who is ultimate and supreme?

GOD wins!

Revelation 11: ¹⁶ And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, ¹⁷ saying:

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.

¹⁸ The nations were angry,
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

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My head was pounding and I could barely breathe. It seemed like every note sent to me was filled with more bad news. I said to myself “this is going to be a rotten day” and guess what… it was!

• When I focus on everything bad I forget to look at GOD.
• When I look at everything wrong I can’t see what is right.
• When I see everything terrible I lose my direction on where GOD is calling me.

When situations arise I tend to forget GOD has already won! I may think HE is losing because I’m feeling rather beat up but HIS victory is nothing but reward for me.

• GOD rewards me for revering HIS name.
• GOD rewards me for recognizing HIS place and HIS power.
• GOD rewards me for reveling in HIS power.

GOD reigns now! HE always has and will always reign. I mean the situations that I think are catastrophic were known to GOD way before they happened. HE understands and HE loves. I get excited just watching HIS power!

• Are you stuck?
• Do you think you have no way out?
• Can you rely on GOD’s matchless power to be in control of your situation?