Devotion for Sunday, May 28, 2023

“The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter” (Revelation 8:11).

In the Ukranian language, the word for ‘wormwood’ is Chernobyl.  Is this a prophetic reference to radiation?  But as you see, that gets us off track.  The waters were no longer any good.  That is the point.  Throughout history, because of poor and ill-informed stewardship, mankind has polluted the drinking water.  Spiritually, the devil has led too many astray from the living water with pollution.

Lord, You have called for purity.  We pollute.  You have given us life and the means and way to live.  We ignore You.  I am in the situation I am in, but You have given me grace to come out of this world’s way of doing things and live according to Your goodness.  Lead me to learn how to live as You would have me live.  Let me not pollute thoughts, words, or deeds, but learn to live in the grace You give me.

Lord Jesus, I need Your saving hand.  Without You, I would drink from the polluted waters of this age.  Without Your grace, the poison of wickedness would consume me.  Lead me in the salvation You have prepared so that I may follow You and walk in Your counsel.  In Your goodness, cleanse my thoughts, words, and deeds so that I may live life as You intend that it be lived.  Amen.