Apr 23

Though the third of angels who rebelled with Lucifer against God had dwelt in heaven, had stood in the very presence of God and seen his glory, they still chose to rebel against him. Yet they are constantly witnessed against by human beings who have never seen what they saw, never saw the great glory of God, and yet they still refuse to rebel against God and freely choose to remain faithful to him and obey him.

Nor is this all. Even when persecuted by these same evil beings and their followers in this world, these believers refuse to give up their faith in the One who created them. Through pain and sorrow and suffering and persecution, they still cling to their God as God and remain faithful to him.

No wonder Scripture describes the devil in the last days as rampaging around on the earth in great fury. What a searing indictment against him that these puny little mortals remain faithful to God against all odds and great persecution from him and never having seen God in his glory as he had, and also even as he adds his own persecution of them to test them further. Despite all that, they do not join him but choose to remain in service to the One they have never seen. This faithfulness is a dramatic, living demonstration of how wrong and horribly evil was Lucifer's choice. It is a constant judgment of him.

Our faithfulness to God gives him great glory, for it speaks so powerfully, as no mere words can, that he is worthy of such trust and devotion--and love.

Scripture for today: 1 Peter 1:8
Thought for today: God receives glory when those who have never seen him love him.
Prayer for today: Lord God, you are worthy to receive all manner of love and glory, for you are so great that even though we cannot see you, we love you and worship you.

APR 23