Day 259/260: Read Revelation 21

A lot of people love lists. Grocery lists, to-do lists, top ten lists. Lists are everywhere…even in the Bible.

Galatians 5 has two lists: the works of the flesh (5:19-21) and the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-23). Paul lists a number of sins that, without repentance, will prevent one from the kingdom in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. Peter lists a number of things we should be adding to our faith (2 Peter 1:5-7).

Here in Revelation, we are faced with a list of traits of those who “shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Most of the things on this particular list make sense: the unbelieving, murderers, sexual immoral, idolaters. Of course, such things will prevent the impenitent from eternal life. But look at the top of the list: “the cowardly.”

Have you ever been a coward in spiritual things? Most of us can probably think of some situations that we do not use the power God grants us to overcome cowardice (2 Timothy 1:7), but we can work on that, can’t we?

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Revelation 22:18-19. For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone ____________ to these things, God will ____________ to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes ____________ from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take ____________ his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Pray

Pray for the strength to access the power, love, and sound mind to overcome fear in your life.