“So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and a harmful and painful sore afflicted the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image” (Revelation 16:2).

Does the Lord do things to punish people?  The world sometimes thinks so.  If people obeyed God’s commands, there would be no need for abortion and there would be no STD’s that they would catch.  Does God cause abortion and sexually transmitted diseases?  God forbid we have such horrible thinking.  The wrath is built in as a recompense.  The deterrent is to cause us to pause and think again about what we are doing.

The Lord desires that none would perish.  When the word of God says this, it means it.  Our Savior died once for all.  We will, however, pay the price for the sinful things we do.  We are forgiven, yes, but the built-in recompense is ours.  If I steal, get caught, and go to jail, that is as it should be.  The forgiveness of Christ may be mine, but I will pay a price for my crime.  Abide in Christ so that His grace paves the way to be with Him forever.

Lord Jesus, I do not understand why I think that because I follow You, no plague should touch me.  Your death was horrific.  If You were not exempt from the sin of this world, and You are perfect, why do I think that I should be exempt from the recompense of sin?  Lead me to persevere so that no matter what happens in my lifetime I know that You love me and that Your grace is sufficient for me.  Amen.

“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God” (Revelation 16:1)

The time will come when the Lord ends this age of rebellion.  The time will come when your time is up.  In one sense, both are at the same time.  What will it take to conform you to Christ?  Some will never be conformed and remain in eternal rebellion.  But you are reading this, so I suspect you wish your rebellion to be overcome by the grace of the Lord in order to conform you to His image.

What shall you do?  Will it take the wrath of God to get you to release what needs to be released, or will you willingly come into His presence and walk with Him according to His purpose?  The Lord is calling you and desires that You walk wholly and fully with Him now and forever.  Being saved is not a one-time feel-good moment.  It is the reality of the continuing battle in this rebellious world between our desire to be with the Lord and our desire to be in charge.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead me on the narrow path to be conformed into the image of a child of God.  There are so many stumbling blocks in the way, but You know the desire of my heart.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I continue day by day, and by whatever means, to humbly walk with You.  You are the author and finisher of my faith.  In You, I have hope.  Guide me by whatever means I need this day to remain faithful to Your calling.  Amen.

“And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished” (Revelation 15:8).

When sin has been forever banished the righteous shall enter the temple.  Sin has been banished by the cross and those who are in Christ may come before the presence of God.  What we await is for God to bring about eternity.  The events of this age must unfold, but the promises of the Lord give us hope for what is to come.  He will not stop until you are like Christ.  He will accomplish what He has promised.

Lord, there are great mysteries which I do not understand.  I can understand that You have taken upon Yourself what should have come upon me.  Because of that, I am now on a journey of becoming like You.  You already know the days ahead of me, but I live them moment by moment.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may humbly walk in the truth of Your purpose and presence.

Lord Jesus, my Savior who has taken away my sin, perfect me by whatever means You choose and lead me according to Your purpose.  You know all that is needed.  You know what I need to become complete.  Thank You, Lord, for saving me.  Help me to continue on the journey before me, working through all that this world will throw in the way of my humbly walking with You.  Guide me according to Your eternal purpose.  Amen.

“And one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever” (Revelation 15:7).

Judgement is built into what happens.  It is not that God is looking at others with wrath. But He has made it so that recompense has been prepared ahead of time.  Either Christ will take your iniquities upon Himself, or else you will be condemned for your unforgiven sins.  For those in grace, the wrath of God brings about repentance.  For the eternally rebellious, God’s wrath is answered with their vitriol and hatred.

Lord, I do pay a price for my sins.  You have given me grace so that eternal death will not be mine, but I still pay a price in this world.  Lead me to learn how not to sin.  You have given promises that You will make me perfect as You are perfect.  In that hope, I know there is still much work to be done.  I would rather do these things willingly rather than face Your wrath.

Lord Jesus, You have taken upon Yourself my sins so that the sting of death would be removed.  I still have much that needs to be done in this life of faith You have given me.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go and help me to do so willingly in order to be conformed to Your image.  Keep me from the recompense of sin by teaching me how to resist sin, the devil, and death by living a life that is righteous in Your sight.  Amen.

“After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and their chests wrapped with golden sashes” (Revelation 15:5-6).

The tabernacle of testimony?  The tabernacle is open and closed.  It is open to those who worship but closed to those who do not believe.  The day will come when all will know that Jesus is the One who has come.  In that day, when all see, it will be too late to make a choice, for the choice will already have been made.  In that day, you will either rejoice or curse the Lord of lords.

Lord of all creation, teach my heart to praise You and give thanks for Your goodness.  You have opened the tabernacle of Your presence so that I may know You are with me always.  I have faith, Lord, but often I do not fully believe.  Help my unbelief so that I become purified and prepared for what You have created for eternity.  No matter what comes upon this earth, lead me to be ready to be with you forever.

Lord Jesus, You have come to set me free from the bondage of death in this age of rebellion.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that in You I may have eternal hope.  Guide me to live and love in the hope which You give.  Teach me to bear whatever cross I need to bear, knowing that You will use my trials to prepare me to be with You forever.  Guide me in the way of Your eternal goodness.  Amen.

“Who will not fear You, Lord, and glorify Your name?  For You alone are holy; For all the nations will come and worship before You, For Your righteous acts have been revealed” (Revelation 15:4).

In this world it seems as though people are seeking to avoid the reality of the Lord.  Some take for themselves what belongs to the Lord alone.  But the righteousness of the Lord is forever.  All honor does belong to the Lord.  The party of the wicked one will continue to defame the Lord.  Those who follow the Lord will bow down willingly and worship the Lord.  Come then, and live in truth and worship the Lord.

Lord, You are King of kings and Lord of lords.  It can be seen by any who will look, for all of creation is Your work.  The nations ignore you, but I do not.  Teach my heart to not fear people but to fear You.  You alone are holy, and holy is Your name.  You alone are salvation and as many as believe are given a rightful fear, honor, respect, and righteousness.  In You alone is all hope.

Lord Jesus, You alone bore the iniquity of my sin.  You alone are worthy of all honor and praise.  I do not honor and praise You as I should.  Lead me from where I am to where I need to be.  Lead me according to Your goodness, O Lord, so that I may walk humbly in Your sight.  Lead me to live out the truths I speak, be an example of Your presence in my life and glorify Your name, for You alone are holy.  Amen.

“And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!” (Revelation 15:3)

Are you thankful that the Lord has placed you where He has placed you?  Being thankful is often a difficult thing.  Too often, we are conditional in our gratitude.  Love gives thanks for others regardless of the circumstance.  That is why people hang on as death approaches.  One more day, one more moment.  They are thankful and want any time they have left with their loved ones.

Learn to sing the song of Moses.  Amidst whatever difficulties this life has – and Moses had his share in his time – adopt an attitude of gratitude for all that the Lord has given you.  Be guided by the Lord and not by the fleeting circumstances of this world, which shall pass away.  Know that in the Lord is true hope and the only future worth living.  He has given life to all, but eternal life comes to those who learn the song.

Lord Jesus, it is not that these things are conditional.  They are not.  If I learn to love, I will learn to sing the song with my life.  A good tree bears good fruit.  Lead me, dear Lord, and continue to teach me so that I may sing the song of thanksgiving with my life.  Teach me to love and be thankful for Your many blessings.  Complete me so that I may become like You in all things.  Continue to lift me up into Your likeness.  Amen.

“And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who were victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God” (Revelation 15:2).

The Lord has promised that by His grace there are those who will overcome this age of adversity and rebellion.  Take care to not pour too much literalism into this scriptural word picture, for we look in a mirror dimly and things do not always appear as they are.  What we can do is live in the hope our Lord gives us in faith and by grace.  It is enough to know that the Lord has given us so many good and gracious promises.

Lord, I want to know about the sea of glass.  I want to know what the number of the beast means.  But Lord, all I need to know is wrapped up in the simplicity of the Gospel.  ‘I’ is in the midst of sin.   You loved us enough to die for us.  By Your stripes we are healed.  Guide Your faithful in the simple way.  We are not the people we often think we are.  We are Your sheep, redeemed by Your precious blood, and set on the narrow way of the hope You give in the promises which are ours in You.

Lead me this day, Lord Jesus, to humbly walk the path You set before me.  Regardless of the circumstance, help me to know that my hope is in You alone, Lord.  You are the strength every believer needs to make it through the tough days.  You are the reminder we all need in times of joy, that in You we have our joy.  Through all that this life may bring, may I be found walking humbly with You and in the way You have established.  Amen.

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished” (Revelation 15:1).

The number seven in Scripture is a number that can mean perfection or completion.  Christ has come to make you perfect, even as He is perfect.  What will it take to make you perfect?  The Lord will not stop until He has completed what He has come to do.  “Be perfect, even as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”  This is what Christ intends to do with You.  Will you walk with Him and see the Lord perfect you no matter what?

Lord, I like the idea of perfection, but I do not like the cost of suffering.  This world is difficult and yet this is how You will bring me to perfection?  The old Adam does not like it.  Slay the old Adam that I may be resurrected to walk in the likeness of Christ.  By whatever means, help me to submit, knowing that You will not stop until all is completed according to what You have intended from the beginning.  Thy will be done….

Lord Jesus, once again I turn to You and my only response is that I need to be saved.  Lead me according to Your goodness and righteous will to humbly walk in the way You would have me walk.  Guide me along the narrow path of salvation that, in all I say and do, and no matter whatever plagues I must endure, I would come ever closer to being like You my Lord and Savior.  Do not stop until You have completed this task in me!  Amen.