As a result, the dragon was enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children — those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the testimony of Jesus, His Liberating King. And the dragon stood waiting on the sand of the seashore, for another horror was about to arise.
Chapter 13
I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the blackness of the sea. On its horns hung ten crowns, and on its heads were inscribed blasphemous names. This beast was like a leopard, its feet were like the claws of a bear, and its mouth was like the jaws of a lion. The dragon bestowed it with his power and his throne and his great authority. One of the beast’s heads appeared to have suffered a fatal blow, but its mortal wound had somehow been healed. Amazed at the miracle and its power, all the earth followed the beast. People worshiped the dragon because he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast because of its power.
Earth: Who can match the beast? Who can fight against it?
And the beast was given a mouth that bellowed arrogant boasts and uttered great blasphemies, and it was permitted to do what it willed for 42 months. Its mouth opened with a stream of insults against God, blaspheming His name, cursing His dwelling and those who live in heaven. Also it received permission to declare war against the saints and conquer them. Not a single nation, people, language, or ethnicity could escape its dominion. The inhabitants of the earth will worship it, that is, all those whose names have not been recorded before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.
r e f l e c t
“Cast off all bonds of prejudice and custom, and let the love of Christ, which is in you, have free course to run out in all conceivable schemes and methods of labour for the souls of men.” Catherine Booth, Messages to Last Christian Mission Congress
d e c l a r e
The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. Psalm 93:1
d o j u s t i c e : l o v e m e r c y : w a l k h u m b l y
By conservative estimates, 25% of the world‘s population hold 75% of the world‘s wealth. If you are reading this, chances are high that you fall in the top 25%. What might it look like to switch places as Jesus instructed the man in today’s passage? Imagine Jesus saying this to you. How does it make you feel? What would you say to him? Do you hold your money loosely or does your money hold you tightly? Find an opportunity to give money to the poor and do so secretly and in an extravagant way
beyond what you think you can afford.
a f f i r m
The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3
r e a d + r u m i n a t e
Mark 10:17-31 (TNIV)
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your
father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With human beings this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
r e f l e c t
“Cast off all bonds of prejudice and custom, and let the love of Christ, which is in you, have free course to run out in all conceivable schemes and methods of labour for the souls of men.” Catherine Booth, Messages to Last Christian Mission Congress
d e c l a r e
The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. Psalm 93:1
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
By conservative estimates, 25% of the world‘s population hold 75% of the world‘s wealth. If you are reading this, chances are high that you fall in the top 25%. What might it look like to switch places as Jesus instructed the man in today’s passage? Imagine Jesus saying this to you. How does it make you feel? What would you say to him? Do you hold your money loosely or does your money hold you tightly? Find an opportunity to give money to the poor and do so secretly and in an extravagant way beyond what you think you can afford.
#42 Learn to sew or start making your
own clothes to remember the invisible faces behind what we wear. Take your kids
to pick cotton so they can see what that is like (and then read James).
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