I will not be blogging in 2012.

I will be praying for you. Pray for me as I seek a new direction from the Lord. I'm retiring from the Army on February 15. I'll be spending some time re-orienting and discerning God's call for the second half of my life and ministry! Thanks for the privilege of sharing my thoughts from the Scriptures. Keep seeking His kingdom, Mike

Dressing for a wedding

The Bride of the Lamb will be dressed in fine white linen representing her righteous acts (Rev 19:8) We should live like we’re preparing for the wedding. We must be diligent to present ourselves “without spot or wrinkle” on that coming day. The fine white linen is also our uniform. We will be clothed in white as we ride in the ranks behind Jesus when he comes to battle the devil and reign over the earth. (Rev 19:14) Is your uniform “squared away?” As a bride prepares for her wedding; as a Soldier prepares for inspection, so we must live in preparation for the coming day! Thank you Jesus that your robe is dipped in blood that my robe may be white.

Disappointing delusions

The world’s systems are treacherous. They cannot trust one another. In the end they will implode and consume one another (Rev 17:2, 16). If the world cannot trust itself, far be it from me to put my faith in Babylon. While it may give its adherants temporary ease, prosperity and luxury it cannot be relied upon for eternal things; security, significance, and salvation. I must not sell myself to the corrupt system. Rather, I must rely completely on Christ since he alone is trustworthy.

Arm yourself for this purpose

At long last His kingdom will come. Christ will return with salvation, authority and power. (Rev 12:10) However, things will get worse before they get better. Terror will come to the earth and sea for the devil will be thrown down to us in great anger, knowing that his time is short. (Rev 12:12) This calls for endurance. No one knows the day or the hour that Jesus will rescue his people. (Mat 24:36) Some are destined for prison, sword, and persecution. (Rev 12:9-10, 14:12) Your faithfulness now is indicative of your faithfulness then. He who is faithful with a little will be faithful with much. (Luk 16:10) Now is the time to train yourself in godliness (1Ti 4:7-8)

Wooing and warning

The Revelation is a bitter-sweet book. (Rev 10:9) On the one hand we see the fulfillment of God’s mysterious plan and the redemption of his people. (Rev 7:14) On the other we see the judgment of those who refuse to repent even in the face of supernatural wrath. (Rev 9:20) While I long for the day when God will glorify his people and restore his creation, I know that it must get much worse before it gets better. Revelation is a complicated book with a simple message: God is going to judge. Repent and receive his grace and mercy while time remains. Though the book is filled with judgment, it’s purpose is redemptive.

The indirect pursuit of happiness

The Lamb who was slain receives a seven-fold reward (Rev 5:12). This perfect reward includes power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing. These are all the things that man pursues by his own means at the expense of his brethren. They are not inherently evil, but man commits evil in his lust for them. Jesus’ shows us that these things are given by the Father. They are not to be pursued directly. Rather, they are a reward for obedience and sacrifice. Reward is gained through stewardship, not human strength and strategy. Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust can destroy (Mat 6:20).

We can do better

Early in the church’s history false teachers taught that we should take advantage of God’s grace to do the sinful things we want to do without repercussion (Jud 1:4). Jude had higher expectations of the church than that. He worshipped a God who is able to keep you from falling away and bring you into his glorious presence without a single fault (Jud 1:24). Many of us have become comfortable with our spiritual apathy and have decided to let nature take it’s course while relying on the grace of God. To those of us who have fallen into this trap the Jesus writes, “Remember your first love. Look how far you have fallen. Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.” (Rev 2:4-5) Some of us need to “dig deep,” and rediscover the joy of our salvation and the motivation to follow Christ, living as He did and doing the kind of works He did.