Author: Aaron Hufty

Re:Verse passage: Revelation 12:1-6, 13-17; 13:1-4, 11-18 (day two) 

I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 13:3

Do you remember the Exodus story? When Moses and Aaron came before Pharaoh they performed many wondrous signs, but so did the magicians of the court. We often hear people claim that if they could behold something really amazing and miraculous they would follow God. There are several things wrong with that statement. God doesn’t have to convince us of anything. His wonders are clearly on display for all to behold. But the other thing to think about is the deceiver can perform wondrous things as well. If we are lured by spectacle, we must resist the temptation to follow blindly. How does any work or wonder point to Jesus? How does it show us more of his character. Be on guard.

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 10:1-9; 11:1-15 (day two)
“Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshippers there.” 11:1

Locusts, beasts, dragons, plagues, famine, war, calamity, and most certainly death…yet there are still those remaining who refuse to give up the hope that is promised in Jesus Christ. What does adversity do to your faith? When push comes to shove and everyone, and everything you hold dear is falling away can you still gather together with other saints and cry out to the Lord? No one can truly know how far they can be tested, but we can gird ourselves for the trial. Our spiritual training that comes through our time spent in reading the Word, communing in prayer, worshipping with others is all the pre-requisite to building that spiritual muscle need for the day when we will face the challenge. May we all stand to worship when the world around us falls.

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 8 and 9 (day two) “The rest of mankind…did not repent of the works of their hands.” 9:20

Have you ever heard of someone narrowly avoiding death or some terrible disaster who gratefully exclaims that they will live their lives “better” from that day forward only to fall back into patterns and habits that had previously defined them. They were stirred by something catastrophic, but they never let it penetrate their hearts that they truly needed to change.

Most of us don’t live in peril everyday, and we become numb to our eternal condition. These people in Revelation completely skipped the ‘grateful to be alive’ part and simply refused to repent. We aren’t that different if we are continuing to surrender to sin rather than Christ. The fact is that death, plague, destruction, or famine did not sway the minds of those in John’s revelation. We cannot change ourselves, we must submit to that same Lamb that John saw opening the seals.

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 7 (day two)

“…and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” vs. 17b

What was it about having your mom or dad kiss your boo-boo that made it better? Did it change the nature of the injury or the circumstances that caused it? No it did not. Did it give you a sense of comfort to know that you had shared your pain with someone you loved, and who you knew loved you? Absolutely. Consider for a moment the story of the prodigal son. When he came back home, even when he was far off his father ran to him. He didn’t wait for him to come groveling. The price had been paid, the deed was done, and now it was time to celebrate redemption. God cares for each of us enough to run to us, and wipe away each of our tears. Is there a more tender picture of our great God than that? The deed is done, time to rest and fill ourselves with the Redeemer.

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 6 (day two) “And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer…” vs. 11a

The voices of the martyrs cried out to the Lord for justice, and they were told to wait because their number would continue to increase before the end. One of the comforts that we have in the American church is that we do not live under any constant threat of persecution. There are indeed examples of pressure placed on the body, but we, as a group, are not under the kind of oppression that our Myanmar brothers and sisters have faced. We do not know and understand radical persecution like other parts of the world. For this we are thankful, but this passage serves as a warning that the church has not seen the end of persecution.

We, then, are forced to examine ourselves and ask if we are willing to die for our faith. Perhaps a better way to look at it is – are we living like we are willing to die? When it all comes to a close, what will really matter about our journey? LIVE FOR HIM

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 4:1-7, 5:1-14 (day two) “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” 5:12

Who or what in our lives is worthy (to receive honor and glory)? I mean someone or something that is so deserving of honor and respect that there can be no dispute of their worthiness. The more pluralistic our society comes, and the more man-centric we are it seems there can be no consensus. No matter the figure it seems some group can’t reconcile some part of their story, and therefore refuses to bestow respect.

While this is sad, there are some great people throughout history who have done great things, it is also accurate. In its truest sense the only one truly WORTHY is Jesus. Even those who condemned him found no fault in him. He laid down his life to be lifted up and exalted.

Next time you find yourself disappointed in another flawed creature, consider looking higher. This Jesus never sought power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, or glory, yet by his obedient nature that submitted his will totally to the father is faultless and truly WORTHY of all honor we can give.

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 2:1-11; 3:1-6, 14-21 (day two) 

“Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.” 3:2

You’ve lost your first love, you’ve fallen, you’re neither hot nor cold. These declarations to the churches contain some very direct and often harsh criticism. No one is without blame, they all are broken in some way. But there is hope. Look at how the letters end:

2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.”

2:11b “He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.”

The other letters end similarly. The point? God is not giving final condemnation here. He is giving the churches a wake up call, a state of the Union. We need to hear where we are strong, but also where we are weak so that we may better serve. If you feel that word of reproach, take it for what it is. Wake up, change course, serve well.

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 1 (day two)

“…and His voice was like the sound of many waters.” vs. 15b

We have a sound machine that is located near baby Jessica’s crib. Every time we put her down for a nap or bedtime we turn it on. Perhaps you have used one of these devices before. They even have apps that you can get on your phone. They contain a variety of different sounds, but the one we use sounds like ocean waves crashing on a beach. We use this because that “white noise” tends to drown out everything else that might interfere with Jessica’s rest.

If you have ever stood on the beach you know that sound. It is at once both powerful and soothing. By it everything else is made small. This is how John describes the voice of the Lord. If you long for his voice, for his guidance, for his path forward you must stand before that sound. What that means is that you will have to let go of whatever other sounds are competing for your attention. Your sin, your self-doubt, your anxieties, all of these pale to the great voice of the Lord. If you want to hear him, you cannot listen to the others. Then, only then, can you find your rest.