Old Testament: Ezekiel 4-6
Poetry: Psalm 92
New Testament: Revelation 7
My apologies, I messed up the schedule and talked about Revelation 5 rather than 6 yesterday, so today we’ll get a lot of Revelation! I am writing this from somewhere in the middle of Indiana with about 27 of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Please pray for all those going to ReFuel South. Please pray for our safety and great blessings to those hosting it! I also pray the worship and preaching will glorify God and encourage the walk of faith for all attendees!
Most little girls love horses. Horses are beautiful, graceful, and strong. I, however, have a healthy fear/respect for horses. A long time ago, I volunteered with a program that matched horses with kids with disabilities. I loved the kids. However, I spent most of the time grooming a horse that knew I feared him and took every advantage of that… including releasing some methane every single time I brushed his backside. Ugh. So you can imagine I find the visions of the four horses of the apocalypse especially disturbing. In fact, most of yesterday and today’s reading was pretty gruesome. Ezekiel starts out eating scrolls that taste like honey but ends the reading with foretelling about the great destruction of Israel. One third is killed by fire, one third is killed by the sword, and one third will be saved but scattered across the nations. Keep this in
mind for tomorrow’s reading in Revelation. Revelation starts with the horses representing the conqueror, death, famine, and war along with the seals representing the martyrs and terror.
Thankfully, we move on to the 144.000 chosen from the tribes of Israel. But then, THEN, WE are mentioned!!! Starting in verse 9, WE are “ the every nation, tribe and tongue,” wearing white robes shouting, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
When the reading of the Old Testament and Revelation gets a little frightening, It is these promises of God to which I cling… Much like on the few occasions I ride a retired horse on a worn park trail!
-Maria Knowlton
And the editor apologizes for yesterday missing that we are starting Ezekiel with 3 chapters for the first few days in order to get the rest of the Old Testament to squeeze into the rest of the year. So you might need to play a little catch-up to get in Ezekiel 3. Sorry. But, while we are talking schedules, I am starting to put together the Bible reading plan for next year. If you have a preference on what that might look like (chronological, 1-3 readings a day, etc…), leave a comment or let Marcia know. Thank you for Seeking, Growing & Loving with us!
Reflection Questions
- Are you prepared for your role in Revelation? Do you know and confess the ones who hold Salvation?
- How can you practice for your part today?
- Why do you think God gave both Ezekiel and Revelation to the audiences they were originally written for, as well as saved for you and I?
- What do we learn about God in our reading today?
Seek Grow Love 