And the elders fell down and worshiped [Him who lives forever].
Chapter 6
Then I saw the Lamb break the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures call out with a thundering voice.
First Living Creature: Come!
Then, I looked, and what a sight! There was a white horse carrying a rider with a bow. He wore a wreath and came riding like a conqueror, intent on complete victory. The Lamb broke the second seal, and the second living creature called out. Second Living Creature: Come! Then another horse, fiery red, sped forth. Its rider was granted the power to steal peace from the earth and received a large sword so that people would slaughter each other. The Lamb broke the third seal, and the third living creature called out.
Third Living Creature: Come!
Then I looked, and behold, there was a black horse! Its rider held in his hand a balance scale. And I heard a voice emanating from the middle of the four living creature.
a f f i r m
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves. Psalm 127:1-2
r e a d + r u m i n a t e
Matthew 20:1-16 (RSV)
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to
them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five
o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take
what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
d e c l a r e
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11
d o j u s t i c e : l o v e m e r c y : wa l k h u m b l y
God’s grace is so radical it is willing to risk being misunderstood as the affirmation of bad service or sin. Try this: the next time you are in a restaurant with less than good service, tip the waiter extravagantly, giving 20-30%. How does this confront your own value system? Watch how it impacts the waiter.
19. Write one CEO a month this year. Affirm or critique the ethics of their company. (You may
need to do a little research first).
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