​Week 51, Day 1

​Week 51, Day 1
December 19, 2022
Scripture: Revelation 13
 
The Dragon is warring against the people of God. Things are not looking very good for those who would choose to follow the Lamb. Out of the sea comes that which is stealing the worship of God and warring against the saints of Christ. 
 
Many will fall under the pressure of the beasts. It has a megaphone of power and control that will make life miserable for those who trust in Christ. There will be persecution and economic difficulty for those who choose to remain faithful to Jesus Christ.
 
In our comfortable world of freedoms, we are often insulated from the sorts of pressures that our dear brothers and sisters are facing around the world. There are rothers and sisters in Christ who must worship God in secrecy. They face death all day long for their love and devotion to Jesus. This is the pressure of persecution.
 
The pressure we face is different, but it is still something that steals our worship. We grow increasingly comfortable that we do not realize that our worship is compromised. We can give glory and praise to nation, people, companies, and so much more. This is the pressure of prosperity and comfortability. 
 
There is a battle for worship. The beast and dragons have lost, they are defeated, so they spend their days making the lives of those who trust in Jesus miserable and difficult. The dragon is a sore loser.
 
Here’s the encouragement and challenge:
 
““If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.” This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.”(Revelation 13:10)
 
“This calls for wisdom. Let those who have insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.” (Revelation 13:18)
 
This calls for patient endurance, faithfulness, and wisdom for God’s people.
 
As we take all of this into consideration, may we truly grow in wisdom, patience and faithfulness. Wisdom calls for us to discern the times, how is our worship being compromised?
Patience calls for a seeking of the heart of God and life in His Spirit. My patience grows as I seek the heart of God.
And faithfulness calls for us to look to our Savior, who was faithful, even faithful to death. May we draw from his faithfulness and strength.
 
Paul teaches us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, able to test and approve God’s good and perfect will. May God continue to transform and renew us as we seek the heart of God.