Tag: angels
Jesus explains the Weeds!
Scripture reading for January 17: Matthew 13
“He answered, “The One Who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:37-42
Jesus taught in parables. His parables were illustrations taken from every-day life in Israel that helped His disciples understand the kingdom of God. In this parable of the weeds, which followed the parable of the sower, Jesus sought to relate God the Father’s declaration of how the kingdom of God would be finally established on the earth. He used a common farming illustration of seeds sown in a field and weeds growing in opposition. In this passage Jesus explained the parable of the weeds in the field.
Jesus, Himself, was the sower of ‘good seed’, the sons of the kingdom. Those who believed His Word would be adopted as sons of the kingdom. In opposition, the devil would sow ‘bad’ seed, men and women who would remain sons of the evil one. The sons of the evil one would cause others to sin and break God’s laws. At a set time, God will reap the harvest using His Holy angels. They will first gather the wicked who are residing in the kingdom and throw them into the fiery furnace. It will be a place of eternal torment, weeping and gnashing of teeth. But the righteous will shine with the glory of the Father in His kingdom forever.
How does this story change your view of the world and the conflicts going on there? How does the parable of the weeds help you understand your spiritual state and destiny? What did Jesus reveal about the consequences of a life of law-breaking and causing others to sin?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for speaking to me in stories that help me to see myself and others in light of Your declared truth about the present spiritual conflict and its conclusion. Through Jesus Christ, I can be assured of a place in Your eternal kingdom and share in His glory! Amen.
Our God is Worthy!
Scripture reading for December 9th: Revelation 7, Psalm 117-18, Proverbs 29
Key Scriptures: Revelation 7:9-12 “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen!””
As John beheld the glory of God and the Lamb, he saw a great multitude of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation assembled in white robes and shouting praise to God and the Lamb for their salvation! This caused a domino effect as the angels, elders, and living creatures joined in the shout of blessing to the great God of heaven and earth! Amazingly, this was going on then and is now and will for eternity!
Faith Confession: I look forward to joining the throng around the throne of God in worship of the Lamb and in thanks for His great salvation. It is my prayer that none of my family or friends will miss out! Help me to pray Lord!
Psalm 117:1-2 “Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol Him, all peoples! For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!”
The oil of gladness!
Scripture reading for October 14th: Hebrews 1, Psalm 55, Proverbs 20
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 1:7-9 “Of the angels He says, “He makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.” But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness, therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions.”
The writer of Hebrews extolled the Son of God as God’s final Word from heaven. The Son was better than angels who were ministering spirits to us the heirs of salvation. The Son’s throne was forever and His ruling ‘scepter’ was one of righteousness. His righteousness was a perfect love of truth and a constant hatred of evil. This earned Him an anointing with the oil of gladness! Joy comes from perfect obedience!
Faith Confession: The Son of God, Jesus Christ rules on an eternal throne at the right hand of God the Father. His throne is established in righteousness according to His perfect obedience to God’s Word. He loved righteousness and hates evil! I have joy because I am submitted to His rule!
Psalm 55:22-23 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved. But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.”
Prayers go up; heaven comes down!
Scripture reading for December 10th: Hosea 10-13, Revelation 8
Key Scriptures: Revelation 8:2-5 “Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.”
The prayers of the saints rise before God’s throne, like sweet incense. Angelic beings stand at attention to respond to God as He directs answers to the cry of His people. As heaven responds, there are effects on earth and its people. The relationship of prayer, God’s throne, angels, and the fire of God’s passionate love brings holy awe and trembling in heaven and on earth!
Hosea 9:7 “The days of punishment have come; the days of recompense have come; Israel shall know it.”
Prayer: Lord, I am humbled in holy awe by the prayers of the saints and heaven’s attention and response. My prayer for mercy goes up for those on the earth, knowing a day of recompense is soon to come. Amen.