SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 22-24; Revelation 9

Revelation 9:12
The first doom is past. Two dooms yet to come.

OBSERVATIONS: The horror of the first doom was that those who were not already followers were damaged or destroyed, but not killed. Instead, they were subjected to pain and torture that would cause them to wish for death. The second doom was the loss of one-third of the total number remaining, destroyed by the work of the four angel-messengers. The final doom was that many of those remaining still found themselves crushed by the burdens of their own sins. “There wasn’t a sign of a change of heart.” This is the worst of all: All the warnings, all the opportunities to flee the wrath that is to come, and yet destruction is the route chosen.

APPLICATION: Joey, there are times in your life when the bad gets worse, and the worse than before is surpassed by the worst of all. This is chapter nine, and there are many verses remaining before the triumph of the conclusion. You are not called to be successful. You are called to be faithful.

PRAYER: I have few words to speak on my own behalf, God, but you know my heart. Bless me to bless others. Heal me to heal others. Lead me to lead others. But only if it be your will, God. For the sake of the Lord I love I pray, Amen.