September 4: Ezekiel 22-24; Revelation 9

Scripture: Revelation 9:13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God.
14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.
15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.
16 The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.

Observation: In these verses I see heaven as God’s kingdom headquarters. It is the place from which He leads His armies. From there His war against evil is directed. God’s generals/angels are not there to advise the Commander-in-chief, but to carry out His orders. There is a clear chain of command and only those willing to be under authority are put in authority.

Application: In the family it is called “obedience.” In the army it is called “carrying out orders.” I love my father, so I obey him. I respect my commander-in-chief so I carry out his orders. As a youth I entered my home with, “Hey Mom, what’s for dinner?” In the Navy, I left my Commanding Officer’s quarters saying, “Yes sir!”

When I first accepted the Lord as my Savior, I entered my Father’s house. He did so much for me. Later I learned that my Father is also the Commanding General and I am in His army. He had orders that were specific for me to carry out. I had to learn about authority, how to be under authority and how to be in authority. The Lord sent me into the Navy where I spent most of ten years with the Marine Corps. I found to be promoted to a place where I could give orders, I had to first prove myself in a place where I could take orders.

Prayer: Lord, it is my desire to lovingly carry out your orders as you lovingly give them. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!