I Marvel Greatly

Daily Reading: Revelation 17

Scripture Focus: When I saw her, I marveled greatly.  But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel?" (Revelation 17.6-7)

Devotional Thought: Are you familiar with the legend of the scorpion and the frog?  A frog agrees to take a scorpion across a dangerous stream, but only after the scorpion reassures him, "I won't sting you, for then we both will die!" Halfway across the stream, the scorpion stings the frog.  As they are sinking, the frog asks, "Why?  This doesn't make sense."  The scorpion's response?  "Why are you surprised?  I'm a scorpion and it's my nature to sting."

I thought of that fable when I read about John's vision of "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations" (Revelation 17.5).  When John saw her, he said, "I marveled greatly."  The response of the angel who showed him the vision?  "Why do you marvel?"  Or, "Why are you surprised?"

We marvel at something when it is different in... mindset (how we think)... motive (what makes us tick )... method (how we operate)... manifesto (our ultimate principles).  When I see what's on the news - what politicians are saying, what "protestors" are doing, what pundits are reporting - I marvel greatly.  I don't understand the logic behind destroying the nation or the city or the system that has brought these groups great prosperity and freedom.  Why?  This doesn't make sense.  Is America without fault?  Of course not.  But, to destroy it makes no sense.  Again, I marvel.

The woman in Revelation 17 was drunk on power, filled with hatred, armed in anger.  What a contrast to the eternal love of God!  John just didn't get it, but the angel said he shouldn't be surprised.  Like the scorpion, her behavior was rooted in her nature.  But, thanks be to God, he can give us a new nature through Christ Jesus!

Prayer: Jesus, you have given us, citizens of the Kingdom of God, a new nature - one like Jesus.  We marvel when people think and behave in ways that are not like ours.  Help us to see them in their need and to love them with your love.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 104.16-23

16 The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

17 In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees.

18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

19 He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.

20 You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about.

21 The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.

22 When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens.

23 Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.