SOAP 12/30/2011; Revelation 17:14

Today's reading: Revelation 15,16,17,18

S)" ¹⁴ These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

Revelation 17:14 (NASB)

O) I love the song, "We've Already Won" by Red Umbrella. So what if they are Canadian? My wife has heritage from the Great White North, too! Anyway, in that song they echo the wonderful point made in this verse. The battle is already over, we've already won! In the end, His chosen and faithful are with Him when He is victorious.

A) Nothing will establish and protect faith like an eternal perspective and placing our minds on His salvation. In the end, everything else passes away. Do I still have rent to pay? Yes. Do I still need to put food on the table? Yes. Will God always provide for those things along the way, while I seek His eternal, spiritual direction for my life? YES! satan will try to overwhelm me with doubt, linking all sorts of problems together to make it look like a hopeless situation. The quickest way to counter that destructive thinking is starting at the end. God will win and I will be with Him when He does, as I have been chosen and will remain faithful.

P) Father, thank You first of all for the grace that You chose me in the beginning. The truth is that You choose everyone, if they will only respond in kind. In the divine way that only You can, You have chosen me as Your favorite, just as all of Your children are favorites. Holy Spirit, continue to discipline me, shape me, mold me to be the man I am destined to be. Help me remain faithful in everything, according to the will of the Father. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.