December 16 :: Amos 4-6; Revelation 7

{Revelation 7:1-4}

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

It is interesting to me how often angels are at hand in the workings of God...

December 15 :: Amos 1-3; Revelation 6

December 14 :: Joel; Revelation 5

{Revelation 5:6-9a}

"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song..." 

What exactly do you think it means when this scripture says "the seven spirits of God?" I'm unfamiliar with God as having seven spirits - any thoughts?

December 13 :: Hosea 12-14; Revelation 4

{Hosea 14} This makes for a great summary of the gospel:

Repentance to Bring Blessing

Return, Israel, to the LORD your God.
   Your sins have been your downfall! 

Take words with you
   and return to the LORD.
Say to him:
   “Forgive all our sins
and receive us graciously,
   that we may offer the fruit of our lips.

Assyria cannot save us;
   we will not mount warhorses.
We will never again say ‘Our gods’
   to what our own hands have made,
   for in you the fatherless find compassion.”

“I will heal their waywardness
   and love them freely,
   for my anger has turned away from them.
I will be like the dew to Israel;
   he will blossom like a lily.
Like a cedar of Lebanon
   he will send down his roots;
 his young shoots will grow.
His splendor will be like an olive tree,
   his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. 

People will dwell again in his shade;
   they will flourish like the grain,
they will blossom like the vine—
   Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon. 

Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?
   I will answer him and care for him.
I am like a flourishing juniper;
   your fruitfulness comes from me.”

Who is wise? Let them realize these things.
   Who is discerning? Let them understand.
The ways of the LORD are right;
   the righteous walk in them,
   but the rebellious stumble in them. 

And in light of Revelation 4 :)

December 12 :: Hosea 9-11; Revelation 3

And God says...

{Revelation 3:1-3}

I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

{Revelation 3:9}

I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.

{Revelation 3:15-16}

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

{Revelation 3:19-20}

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 

December 11 :: Hosea 5-8; Revelation 2

Wow, as I read the book of Revelation, I am just amazed at God. In chapter one, God comes to John and speaks to him with a loud voice like a trumpet {rev 1:11}. God proceeds to put His right hand on John while John lies at His feet in such a way that he almost looks dead {rev 1:17}. Here is something that popped out to me in chapter two:

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first."

{rev 2:4-5}

God here affirms the Church in Ephesus of the things they're doing well, but also explains what He needs them to be doing differently. He reminds them to not forget their first love...Him. How gracious is the Maker of heaven and earth to remind us of this over and again? Come. Sit down and delight in your Maker, tell Him all your burdens, ask for His forgiveness and help. Come.

December 10 :: Hosea 1-4; Revelation 1

{Revelation 1:12-16}

This book has been cited to having been written anytime between 60 and 90 A.D.

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 

Does this remind you a bit of what we just read in Daniel...?

{Daniel 10:4-6}

Written around 550 B.C. during Babylonian captivity.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. 

Resource: Biblical Timeline 

December 9 :: Daniel 11-12; Jude

December 8 :: Daniel 8-10; 3 John

While reading Daniel 8-10, you'll find lots of visions from the Lord to good 'ole Danny boy. I never realized this before, but Daniel's visions are actually quite intense in the most experiential use of the term. Not only was his physical body involved, but also extreme emotions. It's very interesting! The visions consequently do things like terrify Daniel and make him fall prostrate (8:17, 10:7). The visions send Daniel into deep sleeps (8:18, 10:9), make him sick (8:27), and cause him to mourn (10:2). But even in his weakness during these visions, God strengthens him even physically (10:18).

But despite all the cool and amazing gifts God gave Daniel, Daniel remained humble, knowing that these things are only given to him through God's choice and for His purposes. Daniel prays on behalf of Israel in this humility:

"Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy."

{Daniel 9:18}

December 7 :: Daniel 5-7; 2 John

{Daniel 6:13-2}

Daniel in the Den of Lions

 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. 

 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” 

 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” 

 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. 

 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 

 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” 

 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 

 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. 

 Painting by :: Henry Ossawa Tanner

December 6 :: Daniel 3-4; 1 John 5

During the peak of Nebuchadnezzar's reign of Babylon, the Lord God of Israel gave him a dream. Only Daniel could interpret the dream for him. You can read the dream here if you'd like. Wow.

 

{Daniel 4:33-37}

 "Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

   His dominion is an eternal dominion;
   his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth
   are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
   with the powers of heaven
   and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
   or say to him: “What have you done?”

 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble."

December 5 :: Daniel 1-2; 1 John 4

Jim LePage is an awesome artist - week by week, he designs a modern piece of artwork as a cover to each book of the bible. It's...pretty darn cool. Check out his notes on Daniel, they make for an interesting summary :)

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. 

{Daniel 1:17}

During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:

   “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
   wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons;
   he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
   and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
   he knows what lies in darkness,
   and light dwells with him.
I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
   You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
   you have made known to us the dream of the king.” 

{Daniel 2:19-23}

As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.

 “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. 

{Daniel 2:30-35}

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” 

{Daniel 2:46-47}

December 4 :: Ezekiel 47-48; 1 John 3

{1 John 3:18-22}

"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him."

Did you know that God is greater than even your heart? He knows exactly what's going on in it, even when we don't. And thus we can set our hearts to rest in His presence...for He is greater than them all.

December 3 :: Ezekiel 45-46; 1 John 2

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. 

{1 John 2:9-11}

I don't know about you, but if I heard this everyday, it would not be too much. Being in the light (aka being in relationship with God) means that I love people...all the time? Well...if I'm walking in the light (aka walking next to God in my daily life, listening to what He says and obeying such)...then...yes! WOW. That's huge. Can I get an amen? This is how I'd like to go about my daying...saying "hello God..."

December 2 :: Ezekiel 42-44; 1 John 1

 

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 

{1 John 1:8-10}

Sometimes I forget about this simple, humble truth: that a lot of the time, I sin, out of pride - out of ignorance - out of whatever, and I forget to confess. I harbor on someone or something and forget that the reason I'm harboring in the first place is because I don't for the most part have a very deep insight into that person or situation. Personally, sometimes it's pretty nice to be reminded of the simple truth that we all sin and that we need to confess it. God is faithful. God is just to forgive. And sometimes - He'll even change your heart entirely :)