"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)
Friday, December 15, 2023 - Day 349 - (Today’s Bible readings: Zechariah 4; Psalm 136; Revelation 12:1-17)
WINNERS IN CHRIST
“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!.” (Revelation 12:11-12 ESV)
These words of prophecy, like the rest of the book of Revelation, are meant to warn us to be prepared and to give us comfort and hope.
The devil is like a ravenous roaring lion searching for a meal. As we look at our world today, it appears that he is feasting sumptuously. Every day it seems that we see more evidence that our culture is turning more and more ungodly. A Christian celebrity is asked about sin. When he responds with clear words of Scriptures, the politically “correct” thought police go into high gear. This shouldn’t surprise us at all. The devil knows his time is short. So he is attacking Bible-believing followers of Jesus.
The comfort comes from knowing that Christians are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) The focus of our lives is on sharing the Gospel! Everyone needs to know that forgiveness comes only through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus, shed on the cross as payment for our sins. But first, we need to know that we are sinners.
May we, in obedient faith, let others know both about sin and about our Savior.
♬ O Christ, Thou Lamb of God,
that takest away the sin of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God,
that takest away the sin of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God,
that takest away the sin of the world,
grant us Thy peace. Amen
(Lutheran Service Book, Devine Service 3, CPH 2006)
Heavenly Father, thank You for the warning and the comfort You gave me in these words. Strengthen my faith for the days ahead. Use me to witness to Your eternal truths NO MATTER WHAT others may say. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
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