What jumped out at me?
Verse 3-4 & v.18 3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.
18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
Why It Jumped Out?
The Scripture frightened me.
John described how God showed Him this. At this point, I can relate to some degree, I think.
While filthy and corrupt on the inside, she appeared to be fine in taste, possessive and materially minded, but filthy, just the same.
How this changes my life
- I am reminded to not pursue riches, and that everything that looks like gold is not worth pursuing or even looking at. Instead of looking at man, material possessions and the influence that this world has to offer, I am to focus on good things, to keep my eye on the invisible things, the heavenly things, God, as I submit myself in order that I may please Him. While we need some material possessions, adornment, malfeasance, opulence, greed, adulteries, idolatry, lust and more evils are not from God.
Prayer
- God, Thank You for the fear of the Lord. May it always exist in me and may it bring wisdom here. Thank you for this clear example that compares to scenarios that we see in our lives during this current time. May temptation never be able to influence me to do evil. Continue to strengthen me and fill me so that I may share the Words of God, with the message of the Cross and the goodness of God, everywhere you would have me to share. Thank you Father,
In Jesus Name, Amen.