Author: SeekGrowLove

Identifying Detestable Idols

Old Testament: Ezekiel 7-9

Poetry: Psalm 93

New Testament: Revelation 8

Today I want to focus on Ezekiel 8. So in this chapter, there is a description of the second vision Ezekiel had. This vision is all about the idolatry going on amongst the Israelites. God takes Ezekiel to Jerusalem. This is where the temple is, so it is where people come to worship God. But instead of that, Ezekiel sees people worshiping idols, not God. I want to focus on the idols that Ezekiel sees, and see how they could potentially be present in our lives. 

The first idol mentioned is in verse 5. It is called the “idol of jealousy.” It is important to focus on what this means, and to start to understand that, we need to know what it means to be jealous. To be jealous is to look at other things and want them more than what you have. It’s like if your neighbor gets this awesome new car, maybe a brand new corvette, and you see that, and start to feel like you just have to have that car. He looks so cool driving it, and you just need that in your life, too.  We try to satisfy ourselves by trying to be like the people around us. We want what they have and maybe, just maybe, more than they have. This is something that we can put before God very quickly. We can focus on the next best thing instead of God. God says in verse 6 “the utterly detestable things the house of Israel is doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary.” We are pushing God away when we start looking for “things” rather than looking for God. 

The second idol that Ezekiel sees is the worship of images of animals and creatures. The elders were burning incense to these images as a form of worship. In verse 12 the elders say, “the LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.” They did not feel like God was there. So what do they do? They replace God with something else. We do this all of the time. Something doesn’t go the way we want it, we feel like God has abandoned us, and we instantly start to put something else before God. We turn to something else that makes us “happy.” Whatever that is, is different for each person, whether it’s work, hobbies, sports, school, friends, alcohol, or other things of this world. Instead of turning to these things, we need to put God first.

The last idol that Ezekiel sees is men in the temple with their “backs towards the temple of the LORD” and bowing down to the sun. The men here have completely turned away from God and are worshiping something other than God. We are sometimes guilty of this as well. We turn our backs to God and worship what is right in front of us. We see the visible thing that is right there and think that that thing is worthy of our full heart. Sometimes we need to do a full 180 and turn our worship back to the amazing, all powerful, loving God. 

Every time God shows Ezekiel one of these idols He calls them “detestable” things. They aren’t just bad or an “issue”, they are detestable in the eyes of God. Having idols is very serious to God. Just read verse 18. It is very important to evaluate our lives and identify if there is anything we put before our relationship with God. And if there is, to either reprioritize our life with God at the head, or get rid of whatever we put before God. 

-Camden Bormes

Reflection Questions

  1. When have you experienced the idol of jealousy? Have you overcome it (for now) or are you currently struggling with it?
  2. How have you seen people (including yourself) try to replace God?
  3. In what ways might idol worship creep into a culture – or into a church – or into the life of a believer – or into your life? What makes it detestable to God?
  4. What makes God and God alone worthy of all your worship and first place in your life and heart?
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Your Role in Revelation

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

  1. Are you prepared for your role in Revelation? Do you know and confess the ones who hold Salvation?
  2. How can you practice for your part today?
  3. 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?
  4. What do we learn about God in our reading today?
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Visions of God

Old Testament: Ezekiel 1 & 2

Poetry: Psalm 91

New Testament: Revelation 6


There are so many reasons I am so thankful for the Holy Word of God. I don’t really have enough time to tell you all about them right now but there was one I just thought of while reading today’s scriptures…

Revelation describes some fairly scary creatures and situations. I am very glad that I get to read about it and know what is going to happen first!


Both Ezekiel and Revelation reveal visions that are wild, brilliant, and fascinating….. But lead to very different ramifications for the people to whom God revealed it.


Ezekiel was given the vision because of the oncoming punishment He would send to the rebellious people of Israel (thankfully God gave them hope for the future as well but that is in a future reading).


Revelation is very different… the visions and prophecies are for those who love the Lord and follow the teachings of Christ. Revelation 5 is a beautiful vision of introducing the only one who is worthy of opening the seals of the scrolls, Jesus Christ, the lamb who was slain.


I’ve been a little too busy this week, working my job and preparing to go to ReFuel South (Whoo Hoo) so I didn’t do a lot of research on the meanings of all the visions I read about today. I cannot even pretend to understand it all, but I do know this one thing. I want to be on the receiving end of the Revelation vision… not the Ezekiel vision. Sadly, there is a vision of the future for those who do not want to be with Jesus in the coming kingdom. There is no coming
back from the second death. Not only do I not want to die that second death, I want to be with Christ! I hope to see you there!

-Maria Knowlton

Reflection Questions

  1. What similarities and differences do you find between Ezekiel and Revelation?
  2. What hope do you find in God’s Word for the future?
  3. What do you learn about God from His Word today?
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Lost and Wandering

Old Testament: Ezekiel Intro – found below

Poetry: Psalm 90

New Testament: Revelation 5


Have you ever had a time in your life where you just feel lost? Like it could be a major thing that happened to you, or just a time where it felt like nothing was falling into place. Where you just wander around, with no end goal in mind, going through the motions. I know in my life there have been plenty of times where I’ve felt that way. One time that I can really think of was my senior year of high school. Going into that year I had no clue what I was going to do in just a few short months. I knew what I wanted sometime in the future, but not right after I graduated. I felt like everything was working out perfectly for all of my friends around me, and that they knew exactly what was ahead for them. But for me, I had no clue. I was lost and just didn’t know what my plan was going to look like. 

Another wandering story is the Israelites in the desert. They disobeyed God, and they wandered around for 40 years! Think about that! They were told that their generation would not enter the promised land, so they just moved around. That is a long time to just move from place to place without an end goal in sight. Now, Psalms 90 is written by Moses, most likely around the time that the Israelites are wandering in the desert. So with that context in mind, let’s dive into what the Psalm is talking about.

The first four verses here Moses is praising God for how great He is. Moses is trying to show just how big and powerful God is. He says in verse 2 “from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Moses then contrasts God’s foreverness with man in verses 5-12. In this section, he talks about how man’s life is short. And beyond that, he says “yet their span is but trouble and sorrow.” (verse 10) Moses is saying that not only is man’s life short, yet in that short life there are a lot of bad things that can happen as well. Remember, Moses is wandering through the desert right now, there are not a lot of great things going on for him. Every time he turns around the people are disobeying him and God. They are just moving from place to place. Knowing that they are not going to get to see the land that God promised them. Yet after all this he moves back into prayer. In verses 13-17, Moses asks God to show His love. In verse 14 he says “satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love.” 

When we are “wandering” and lost, we should take a lesson from Moses. Even when nothing was going right for him, he still asked God to make him glad. (verse 15) Moses asked God for His favor to rest on him. It is easy when things are going poorly to forget how everlasting God is. Moses reminds us that when things aren’t going right, and you’re just “wandering” to not forget about what God has done and what He can do.

-Camden Bormes

Reflection Questions

  1. When have you felt lost and wandering, with no clear goal in mind?
  2. What can we learn from Moses in his time of wandering?
  3. How do you refocus on God’s unfailing love? Have you ever tried asked Him to satisfy you with His unfailing love (which doesn’t mean making your life perfect or giving you everything you want)?
  4. What can we learn about God from Psalm 90?

Ezekiel Introduction

The Book of Ezekiel was written by the prophet Ezekiel while he was in Babylon during the Babylonian captivity.  (Ezekiel was among the first of the exiles to Babylon, and prophesied to Israel for 7 years before the fall of Jerusalem, and for about 13 years after.)  

Thirteen of Ezekiel’s messages are dated in relation to King Jehoiachin’s exile, and you’ll notice, while reading the book, that the messages aren’t recorded strictly chronologically, but are recorded by theme (e.g. 27:1, 29:17, 30:20).

Many times, God called Ezekiel “son of man” – a title Jesus used for himself multiple times in the Gospels.  God also called Ezekiel a watchman, who had to give a warning to sinful people, as we see in 33:7-9, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.  When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die, and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.  But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.’ ”

The book is full of visions and prophecies. It starts with Ezekiel’s awesome vision of God and God’s calling Ezekiel.  It includes prophecies of judgment on Judah and Jerusalem; prophecies against the nations surrounding Israel; and finishes with visions of the future restoration of the land and [millennial] temple, and the glory of God returning to the temple.

Some of the most well-known visions include Chapter 37 (The Valley of Dry Bones) and Chapters 38 and 39 (prophecies against Gog and Magog).

-Steve Mattison

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The Throne of Him who Lives Forever and Ever

Old Testament: Lamentations 3-5

Poetry: Proverbs 31

New Testament: Revelation 4


When I was a little girl, I thought God looked something like the pictures I had seen of Jesus but with short hair. So the first time I met Greg Demmitt, I might have stared at him a little longer than socially acceptable. Obviously, I was a bit silly, but Greg was definitely a godly man and a faithful representative of Christ. I was so blessed to have known him and shared a few waffles at Waffle House with him and my family. My heart hurts that he and my uncle, Dan Kizer, both
great, godly men, both died of pancreatic cancer within four months of each other. In my earthly perspective, it was way too soon. Not because it’s from our reading, but because I need it;


Revelation 21: 1-5
1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”


What a balm for the grieving soul! I can’t get through reading without tearing up with joy…every.single.time.


As far as today’s reading…I got a little emotional whiplash! Lamentations was hard and gruesome to read… One of the commentaries I read said it was a book of sorrow and hope..I must have missed the hope part…except that it does seem God’s people FINALLY realize that they were being punished for their disobedience. But we aren’t told about their deliverance quite
yet. That is a story for another book of the Bible.


After all that sorrow, I read Proverbs 31….which contains the story of so many women I have been blessed to know throughout my life. I alway feel convicted that I don’t quite live up to this description. I alway feel like I can only be good at about a verse or two at a time 😀If you are a girl or woman, look to the women around you to find someone who emulates Proverbs 31. If you’ve been to FUEL you know quite a few! As I have talked about before, we all need good mentors who love the Lord, no matter what our age.


And finally, Revelation 4, our first peak at the throne of God! There is no description of God here (though I’m sure my perception is close) but a splendid description of the throne room and all those worshiping there. I used to think all that singing would be so boring, but then I heard Carrie Underwood sing All Is Well and decided if God gave us that kind of emotion stirring song now, imagine what the Kingdom will be like! But as beautiful as the Kingdom will be, and I am looking forward to seeing it, I really can’t wait to see God’s face, Jesus’s arms and all of those who will be resurrected, my mom, my grandparents, Dan, and Greg.

-Maria Knowlton

Reflection Questions

  1. Who has been a godly mentor for you? What have you learned from them? If no one comes to mind – pray and find one. And even if you don’t know everything and do everything right – you can be a mentor to someone who could use a good example, encouragement and accountability. Pray for an opportunity. And seize it.
  2. How does Proverbs 31 challenge you?
  3. What do you like most about the description of God’s throne room in heaven in Revelation 4? What do you look forward to in God’s Coming Kingdom?
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What’s He Gonna Say About Me?

Old Testament: Lamentations 1&2

Poetry: Proverbs 30

New Testament: Revelation 3

Waaaay back in 1995, the Christian group, Point of Grace put out a song that would become a permanent resident inside my head. It’s a song that seems to bubble to the surface of my brain when I am tempted to behave in a way that is unbecoming of a representative of Christ. What is Christ going to say about me?


What’s He Gonna Say About Me?


Now and then I must admit I hide behind my shallowness
I must confess I don’t begin to say enough
I’ll tell you of my lessons learned but I may never quite express
That God has blessed me far beyond what I deserve


I often miss the chance to show my faith in Him
By failing to convey what I have seen
And then I wonder while I face eternity
How Jesus ever finds a way to intercede for me


What’s He gonna say about me
When He weighs the works that I have done
Against the words that I have failed to speak
What’s He gonna say about me
When the chaff is sifted from the wheat
Will there be evidence that I believed


After this lifetime will come, the thankfulness that I forget
I will regret when I see clearly who He is
Then I’ll know all I should have said
So I must choose to not neglect
But resurrect the praise for all He is to me


If I confess Him before men
He will confess me before the Father in Heaven


The last line is straight out of Matthew 10:32, but Christ also promises to confess us before God in Revelation 3:5. In today’s reading, Christ is pretty hard on the churches in Asia, because he loves them and wants them to grow and thrive. These admonitions must have worked because here I am 2023 years later (give or take a year) writing to you about them! They spread the gospel…they turned from being lukewarm to setting the world on fire for Christ. While I don’t believe our salvation is predicated on our works alone, others will not be saved if we don’t let them know about the salvation that is freely given! My prayer is that we look for every opportunity to share Christ and our faith
in him. I want Jesus to confess me!

-Maria Knowlton

Reflection Questions

  1. In Revelation 2 & 3 what does Jesus promise to those who overcome? Do any (or all) of these serve as good motivators for you to be found an overcomer? What does Jesus want you to overcome today?
  2. What was your impression of the song, What’s He Gonna Say About Me? Do you often think about what Jesus will (and does currently) say about you?
  3. What grade would you give yourself on confessing your faith and spreading the gospel? Can you think of a specific time you could have/should have said something and you didn’t? What do you want to do “next time”? Pray about it.
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Old Testament: Lamentations Intro – see below

Poetry: Proverbs 29

New Testament: Revelation 2

Disclaimer: I know Proverbs 27:2 says not to brag about yourself, but I’m about to brag about my kids so it’s ok!


Today my husband, daughter and I met our son at a car dealership where my son wanted to purchase a car. He wanted our opinion on the car and it was a great excuse to meet him halfway between our home and his college. He had done quite a bit of research on the car and made all the financial arrangements himself. Between watching his interactions with the sales people and his new haircut, it just hit me how much he looks and acts like…an adult! Our daughter also seems to make a habit of making good choices. She always helps me around the house, is a leader on her cheer squad, and is very kind.. Both of my kids are the light of my life and I am so proud of them.


I would love to say that they are doing well because Dan and I are such awesome parents, but they have always been just easy to parent with teachable hearts. Even the times that I reprimanded them for a mistake or something I didn’t agree with, they made corrections and that was, usually, the end of that issue. Now, just because we haven’t had to be strict does not mean we forewent discipline. We spent a lot of time educating our kids on proper behavior,
respect, and morality based on the Word of God.


I like how the Message translates Proverbs 29:15. “Wise discipline imparts wisdom: spoiled adolescents embarrass their parents.” Now I don’t worry too much that my kids’ behavior will embarrass me, I worry that misbehavior will bring pain to them… which brings pain to me.


The entire book of Lamentations is a statement about this effect. The sins of Israel affected Jeremiah mentally and physically. He suffered right along with them even though he listened to God. God, of course, listens to him, and eases his suffering. However, I do think this points out the pain a parent/teacher/mentor feels when they have tried to disciple someone in the Lord and that person decides to reject it. When that person faces a consequence of a bad choice, it hurts the one who tried to help them.


Revelation 2 is a chapter full of both praise and discipline for the 4 churches mentioned. Jesus, through John, praises the churches for their good works but also disciplines the churches against some of their current practices to save them from destruction. The church at Thyatira was warned about a woman teaching “cross-denying, self indulging religion”(The Message). In my previous devotion, I mentioned a modern day “preacher” who is doing this and I am sure she is not alone, preaching a gospel of “your truth.” Later, I was reading through the comments of this Not the Bee article about this preacher. One gentleman wrote the best response to those who teach the power of self over the power of Christ:


“This is why you never flip the order of the First and Second Commands of Christ. Love the Lord your God first. Then love your neighbor as yourself. This heretic probably didn’t set out to blasphemy like this. She just saw Christianity as a means to care for people. But that’s not the primary end of Christianity. It’s to love, glorify and obey God. Loving people rest within that directive, but never above it. Cut enough corners to “love” people and soon you’re affirming sinful behavior. Before you know it, you’re a blasphemous heretic, parading your own made-up religion, never having understood Christ in the first place. The irony is that none of this was ever loving at all. These false doctrines literally hurt and kill people. So far from what Christ ever wanted.” Andy Sheehan – Random guy on the internet


All of our readings today relay the importance of discipline amongst our children, ourselves, our nation, and our churches. Pray we will identify the opportunities to educate and discipline in the name of the Lord.

-Maria Knowlton

Reflection Questions

  1. In keeping loving God first, what ought our response be to someone who is living outside of God’s laws? When have you seen this order (love God first, and secondly, love your neighbor as yourself) disrupted? What is the result?
  2. What should the first goal of Christian parenting be?

Lamentations Introduction

The book of Lamentations was almost certainly written by the prophet Jeremiah shortly after the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon in 586 BC.  The title, “lamentations”, means “loud cries”.  The historical record of the fall of Jerusalem is detailed in Jeremiah 39, 2 Kings 24-25, and 2 Chronicles 36.  The book of Lamentations contains the author’s grief over the fall of Jerusalem because of her sins.  

The book of Lamentations reminds us that sin always brings sorrow, grief, and pain; no matter how alluring and exciting the sin looks initially – it is never worth it.

Despite the overwhelming grief expressed, there is also hope, as we see in 3:19-24, “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness, and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ ”

An interesting point of historical trivia, according to this website, according to Jewish tradition, the original temple was destroyed on the 9th of Av 586 BC.  The second temple (Herod’s temple) was also destroyed on the 9th of Av 70 AD.

-Steve Mattison

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Trusting in Yourself?

Old Testament: Jeremiah 51-52
Poetry: Proverbs 28
New Testament: Revelation 1


So, I spent most of today on a ladder. Not to sound too pompous, but I recently purchased “The Little Giant.” I was very excited. I tried to make it into a shape that would fit on our stairs, but I wasn’t having much luck. Finally, I let the ladder be and watched a few videos about how to use it. I then swallowed my pride and asked my husband for assistance. With some wrangling and a
few terse comments (I’m sorry Daniel!) we got the ladder into a position in which I could reach the areas I intend to paint. Later, we had a good laugh when Dan sent me the meme of a guy falling off a ladder saying, “When I lean on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). I do feel so bad for that guy and I am very glad I didn’t follow in his direction. We see a very similar verse in Proverbs 28:26. “He who follows his own heart is a fool.” In both verses, when we do not
seek out wise counsel and mentorship as I have mentioned before, we will lead ourselves astray.


While standing on the ladder, I mulled over the verses in Jeremiah, I wondered why kings did not listen to Jeremiah. They didn’t even have to seek him out. He was right there at their beck and call. They knew he was wise and sent from the Lord. I just don’t understand. Jeremiah 51 recaps what was going to happen to Babylon; Jeremiah even notes that there was opportunity for repentance but the Babylonian king was not interested. Jeremiah 52 recaps all that had happened to Zedekiah, Jehoiachin, and the people of Judah. Zedekiah never does turn things
around. I am unclear as to when or if Jehoiachin turned to the Lord but his story does end nicely. It is believed by many scholars that he did repent and that is why he did have a descendant return to the throne despite the Lord’s initial punishment denying descendants the throne. But it just seems to me that every story would have had a better outcome if they had just listened to the Lord.


Luckily for us, John did exactly what he was told and recorded what he saw in the vision he had seen and sent it to the seven churches in Asia, which is modern day Turkey. As frightening as Revelation can be, I love that in chapter 1, Christ starts with assuring John and us that HE is in control. We don’t have to lean on our understanding, make decisions without Godly counsel, or live lives without a future hope. Not to give away the ending, but Christ wins it all and if we believe in him, we will win too.


Had I not followed the directions in the videos for my new fancy ladder, I might not be writing this tonight as I might be in a cast. I know I sound like a broken record at this point (have someone over 50 explain what that means if you don’t know) but scripture repeats this too. Trust the Lord, follow His commands, give Him control of your life. It will not lead to a perfect life, but it will be a life tested and approved.

-Maria Knowlton

Questions for Reflection

  1. When have you tried to do things (regarding ladders or life) your own way and what was the result?
  2. When have you walked in wisdom instead – and what was the result?
  3. Who has shared wise counsel with you when you needed it? How did they do so?
  4. How does it help reading Revelation – and going through life – knowing how the story ends? Who do you know who might not have heard yet how the story ends? How can you share the story and wise counsel with them?
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What Tomorrow Brings

Old Testament: Jeremiah 49-50
Poetry: Proverbs 27
New Testament: Revelation intro – found below


As I was leaving an elderly patient’s room, I told him I’d see him tomorrow. He replied, “God willing and the creek don’t rise!” I whipped back around, “What did you say?” I had never heard that saying before, but I immediately decided this line was going in my personal repertoire of phrases. It aligns very well with Proverbs 27:1 and James 4:13-15. We can make all sorts of plans, but we do not know exactly what God has planned for us tomorrow.


I don’t think anyone in Israel saw the events of October 7, 2023 coming. While there have been skirmishes between Israel and the Palestinians for decades, people were just going about their day. Some were shopping, eating out, or attending a music festival. No one was prepared for the Hamas ground and air attacks that took the lives of over 1,400 with 200 more kidnapped. My first thought when I heard this was – could this possibly be the wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24-6) that could spark the end of this age? That thought led me to the book we are about to enter into: Revelation. I’m gonna be honest, the book of Revelation is scary. The first time I heard a sermon about Revelation, I cried all the way home. Parenting tip: don’t let 1st graders listen to a sermon about the end times, even if it’s their father preaching! But God, through Christ, did not give that Revelation to John to scare us, but rather to prepare us. Even as young as I was, my biggest fear about the end times was if my grandparents had heard about this! I don’t remember all she said to comfort me, but my mom assured me that they knew.


There have been other times when God has given his people warnings and instructions for preparations for His people. In Jeremiah 49-50, God instructs Jeremiah to let Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, Elam and last but not least, Babylon know of their upcoming destruction. He also delivers hope for Israel and Judah to be restored as His holy nation. And all of those events happened.


Both in the past and the end-time prophecies, God has given us these messages so that we can be prepared, and part of that preparation includes letting those we meet know about what is to come. Tomorrow I plan on doing some laundry, dishes, and painting the stairwell and the bathroom, God willing and the creek don’t rise. But if God has something else planned for me, I pray I will be found prepared for what HE wants of me.

-Maria Knowlton

Revelation Introduction

The apostle John wrote the book of Revelation (along with the gospel of John, and 1, 2, and 3 John) to the 7 churches in Asia, while in exile on the Isle of Patmos, “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus”.  Our word revelation is translated from the Greek word “apokalypsis”, which means ”revealing” or “unveiling”, but because of the contents of Revelation, the word apocalypse is often thought of as “catastrophe” generally, and “the end of the world” specifically.

Revelation shows the fight between God and his Son Jesus on the one hand, and Satan and his evil followers on the other hand, and shows God’s ultimate complete victory via Jesus over Satan, sin, and death.  Much of this is shown by a series of symbolic visions, with many allusions to Old Testament prophecies – making this probably the most complicated and most misunderstood book in the Bible.

Revelation includes successively more intense punishment on the world, starting with 7 seals, progressing to 7 trumpet judgments, and then moving to 7 bowls of God’s wrath.  (For those of you worrying, 1 Thes 5:9 reminds us that Christians will not endure God’s wrath, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”)

Jesus is shown returning in glory in chapter 19, where he will make war against the beast, false prophet, and their armies. He destroys the armies with the sword that comes out of His mouth.  Chapter 20 then tells about the future 1000-year reign of Christ on the earth before the final great white throne judgment.  Chapters 21 and 22 then tell of the eternal Kingdom of God.

I’ll close with my favorite verse in the Bible, Rev 21:4, “He [God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

-Steve Mattison

Reflection Questions

  1. What is the difference between being prepared for tomorrow and boasting about tomorrow? Where does God want us to be?
  2. What are your feelings about the book of Revelation? What are your feelings about the book of Jeremiah? Why do you think God gave each of these books to the original audiences – and also to you and I?
  3. What is the benefit to knowing a storm is coming? How does this relate to the book of Revelation? What is the benefit to knowing a storm won’t last forever? How does this also relate to the book of Revelation?
  4. What specifically will you do today to be better prepared for tomorrow and for God’s plans for the future? How will you help others be better prepared?
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Fools and Folly

Old Testament: Jeremiah 46-48
Poetry: Proverbs 26
New Testament: Jude


In writing these devotions, I’ve been hoping to bring up my favorite villain of all time, Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz, of Phineas and Ferb fame (which is the best animated series of all time and the only argument against that fact I will entertain is Veggie Tales). Most villains are cruel and cunning, and I just can’t relate to that. Dr. D doesn’t really aspire to be cruel, he just wants to control people in the Tri-State area. After being a mom and nurse, I understand wanting to control people to save them from bad choices..but I digress. The thing I like the most is that for a villain, Dr. D is completely harmless and hilarious. Sometimes his plans are foiled by his nemesis, the hero, Perry the Platypus, but most of the time Dr. D is his own worst enemy. His own folly is the means to his destruction, usually because he builds in a self-destruct button in
all of his inventions designed to take over the Tri-State area. Dr. D is definitely a character whom I would consider a fool, super funny, but a fool nonetheless.


In all of the readings today: OT, Proverbs, and NT, we are told of all sorts of foolish people. In Jeremiah 46-48, God is spelling out exactly what is going to happen to the people/cities who chose to disobey Him. Disturbing reading to say the least. I think the thing that is most disturbing is that these people are purposely foolish. They were warned by Jeremiah repeatedly to return to God, but they would not.


In Proverbs 26, we are given a list of the things foolish people do. Verse 27 has happened to Dr. D. in several episodes of Phineas and Ferb. Verse 11 is a favorite of kids who like to be gross, but points out something fools are famous for: repeating their stupid actions. My favorite quote from Dr. D is what he says after his plans are waylaid: “Well, live and learn.” I quote this all the time. But Dr. D never seems to learn, he makes the same mistakes time and again. He indeed is foolish.


In Jude, we read the letter written to those who have very eagerly decided to follow Jesus Christ, Jude’s brother. Jude writes this letter both to encourage these people but also to warn them about the most dangerous fools of all, those who call themselves Christians but purposely teach falsehood. Just as in 2 Timothy 4:3, fools were claiming to be teaching the word but were in truth teaching what people wanted to hear. Sadly, my brothers and sisters, this is not a problem of the past. I fear we are seeing an even greater number of so-called churches allowing people to teach a gospel of “your truth.” Just this evening as I was mulling the scriptures I had read, I came across a “Not the Bee” article that discussed a preacher or “pastrix” as she calls herself, telling her congregates that God lied to Eve and it’s a good thing Eve ate of the apple so
women would have the agency to make choices over their bodies. And you know where she is going with that line of thinking. This is exactly what Jude was talking about. This is not harmless foolishness. This is the foolishness that leads to death, both in this lifetime and the age to come.


As dangerous as these fools are, we are given the equipment to recognize false teachings and rebuff them. Take up the full armor of God (Ephesians 6: 10-18), Hide the word of God in your heart ( Psalms 119:11), and study, study, study (2 Timothy 2:15)!

-Maria Knowlton

Reflection Questions

  1. What foolish things have you done more than once? How’s that vomit tasting? GROSS!!!! But I couldn’t resist. Do you foresee yourself doing it yet again? How might you be able to train yourself to NOT do it again?
  2. What foolish false teaching are you aware of today? How can you tell it is false? Why do you think others are believing and following after it?
  3. Why do you think the people of Jeremiah’s day were so set on doing life their way when God was so clear about what the consequences would be? Are there any differences today?
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