Light and Feeling Good

Light and Feeling Good

Revelation 16: ¹⁰ Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast. Darkness fell over the beast's kingdom, and people bit their tongues because of their pain, ¹¹ and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not turn from their evil ways.

 

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After saying the words “Rain, rain, go away, come again another day” I looked outside to see if it worked. It seemed to rain harder. There would be no outside activity that day.

 

• I placed my hope in a song.
• I thought I could control the weather by saying some words.
• I really wanted “my” way so I placed my hope in something that I thought would get “my” way.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw the fifth angel pour out the fifth bowl filled with GOD’s anger. The beast, who got his power from Satan, had established a throne and had claimed to take over the world. This bowl caused darkness, more pain and sores. The people knew this plague was from GOD, yet they refused to turn from their evil ways.

 

My Observations:

• JESUS is light and wants me to take HIS light into a dark world.
• JESUS is life and wants me to be salt to spread HIS life.
• JESUS is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and wants me to bring people to HIS one and only path.

 

To avoid darkness, pain and sores, there is only one road, JESUS. I mean, I may have problems, pain and persecution right now, but they will not match what will come when GOD’s full anger is poured out. BUT GOD has a remedy.

 

For those who believe in JESUS as the Savior from GOD’s anger, HE will provide light, no more pain and no more suffering. HE will keep every word HE has spoken and HE promises believers will live in light with HIM forever. This calls for endurance. I gladly endure!

 

Challenge

• What message was the writer conveying that was similar to the verses before this one?
• Have you ever been stubborn and refused to change your ways, knowing GOD would heal you?
• If you find yourself unable, or unwilling to change for GOD, will you ask HIM to help you in the areas of your life you refuse to surrender to HIM, so HE will guide you to light and no pain today?

Another Way

Another Way

Ephesians 2: In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. ² At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. ³ Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.

 

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Growing up obeying the rules, I decided to step away from them to see what would happen. When I did not get struck with a bolt of lightning or get swallowed up by a fiery pit, I said to myself, “Maybe I can try more things that the rules say I shouldn’t.” When I found myself in deep trouble, I wondered how I got there.

 

• I was in a bad place with no hope.
• I felt I did not have a way out.
• I thought I was a disappointment to GOD and even HE would not help me.

 

Paul describes a progression towards a state of being that provides life. He spoke of a time in which the spiritual powers blinded people into following ways that would lead to GOD’s anger. Everyone suffered the natural condition. It seemed hopeless. BUT GOD had another way.

 

My Observations

• JESUS saw I could never achieve HIS required state of perfection so HE died for me.
• JESUS is GOD who became a human for me, was murdered by HIS creation and was raised from the dead, just for me.
• JESUS gave me another way that provides hope and a future.

 

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of GOD is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.”  GOD loved everyone enough to gave a gift. It is up to me to accept HIS gift and live inside of HIS path. Unfortunately there is an adversary who wants me to doubt GOD or blame HIM or question HIS authority or ways.

 

I then say things like “Why does GOD do…?” and “If GOD is so loving then why…?” I then question other people’s walk with JESUS and eventually my own. BUT GOD wants me to have a solid relationship with HIM. HE gave me the HOLY SPIRIT to dwell inside me and guide me to places of peace in stormy times. I am grateful GOD cares for me and I do not have to worry.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer is mentioning “the past?”
• Do you see there is an alternative?
• Will you seek a life that provides hope by asking GOD to handle all of your difficulties today?

Wandering

Wandering

John 14: ⁵ Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

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Feeling abandoned, I wandered aimlessly, with no place to go. As I tried different ways of having “fun” I still felt empty. In fact, the more, “fun” I had, the emptier I felt. “What’s the point?” I asked. I mean everyone seemed to be going somewhere in life and I had no place to go.

• I felt church people were phony.
• I felt the establishment was against me.
• I felt I had no direction and no one I could trust.

Thomas told JESUS, “We do not know where YOU are going, so how can we know the “way?” JESUS gave Thomas a bigger destination. Life’s journey should be towards the FATHER.

• GOD wants me to understand that my life should point to JESUS.
• GOD wants me to seek HIM daily even in my earthly pursuits.
• GOD wants me to trade in my wandering for that of a life of purpose for HIM.

JESUS is the way, the truth and the life.” Any other philosophy that distracts people from this statement is false. I mean, if I am focused on fixing a certain sin in people without having JESUS in the middle, then it may be a distraction.

JESUS wants to be first and only destination. Some philosophies want food or health or psyche or pleasure or money or human words to be their god. BUT JESUS wants to be the only truth. There is no other way to the FATHER but through JESUS. I am grateful HE came after me when I was wandering.

• Are you wandering through life?
• Does your life have no good direction?
• Will you give your life to JESUS so HE can guide you to a much better place today?