Revelation 11:1-4

1I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the
temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2But exclude the
outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They
will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3And I will give power to my two
witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4These
are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the
earth.

Meditation
1. The two unnamed witnesses have the characteristics of the Old Testament
prophets Elijah and Moses. Through the centuries, these two men have
accumulated symbolic greatness – Moses being the giver of Law and Elijah
the giver of prophecy. They direct the attention of all humanity to the Christ
as Lord and Saviour. There can be no complete witness when either Law or
Prophecy is omitted, for Christ is both the fulfillment of the Law and the
fulfillment of prophecy.
2. The Christian church stands in this world as a witness for Christ. You and
I are members of the body of Christ. Am I following the steps of the two
witnesses, in my smaller ways, as a faithful witness for Christ?

Personal Note:
After reading the whole chapter, despite the great things that these two witnesses did for Christ.  They were overpowered by the beast and was killed.  After three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they were taken up to heaven.  Crossroad stands as a witness for Jesus Christ.  Is Crossroad witnessing for Christ?

Revelation 1:4-8

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the
earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made
us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and
power for ever and ever! Amen.
7Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who
pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall
it be! Amen.
8”I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and
who is to come, the Almighty.”

Meditation:
1. Read the passage aloud and pay attention to the characteristics and actions
of God described in this passage.
2. Look at the sky, or close your eyes and reflect on how God has brought
victory to all mankind, including me.
3. What does the proclamation in v8 “I am alpha and omega” mean to my faith
and life today?

Personal Note:
Jesus Christ is the God eternal.  He is here from the beginning till the end.  Glory and power to Jesus Christ as we have conquered death and sin.

In the world I live in, we have this defeated attitude in almost every arenas in life.  I see people living out defeated attitude in their school life, social life, marriage, career, family, addictions, etc.  People are seeking to find victory and accomplishments through success in gaming, career, lust, etc...  As followers of Christ, we have overcome death and evil in this world, through the blood of Christ.

Devo John 19:1-16

1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a
crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and
went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck
him in the face. 4Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am
bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against
him.” 5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe,
Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6As soon as the chief priests and their
officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You
take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” 7The
Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because
he claimed to be the Son of God.” 8When Pilate heard this, he was even more
afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he
asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10”Do you refuse to speak to me?”
Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
11Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you
from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater
sin.” 12From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If
you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king
opposes Caesar.” 13When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down
on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic
is Gabbatha). 14It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth
hour. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
15But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I
crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests
answered. 16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

Meditation
Read this passage slowly. If it’s possible, read the whole Chapter. Try to see
and hear the story. What do I think and how do I feel? Talk to God about it.
Wait for His response.

Personal Note:
I was my sin along with the sins of the religious leaders that put Jesus Christ on the cross.  It is part of God's plan for Jesus to go on the cross. "you would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above."

1 Peter 5:6-11

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up
in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring
lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith,
because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the
same kind of sufferings.
 10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you
have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm
and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Meditation:
1. It’s hard not to be anxious when we’re suffering.  Leaving everything to
God when we are desperate and stressed out seems difficult indeed.  But
Peter has a promise that will help.  Suffering lasts only for a little while.  God
will restore you, and make you strong.  And in His time will call you up to
heaven to share in His own eternal glory.  Whatever today’s pain, we have
the promise of strength, and the prospect of glory – forever.
2. Many things in today’s life cause anxiety for us – finances, jobs, school,
illness, conflict.
3. What anxieties do I have?  Write them down.  Read this passage again.  Cast
the cares upon God by telling Him my worries one by one and ask for His
guidance and care.

Prayer & Journaling:
The anxieties I have are: finances, job/ministry, leading as a husband, time-management...
God, I am willing to cast all my anxiety to you because you cares for me.

Colossians 1:15-20

 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by
him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him
and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And
he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from
among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God
was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile
to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making
peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Meditation
1. Stand up and read this passage aloud. Stand prayerfully in a posture that
communicates to God respect and receptivity to His word.
2. The Incarnation means that God expresses His supreme power in this world of space and time in the
person of Jesus. “Christ in you” means that God still expresses His supreme
power in this world – through us! Because this Christ is in us, we do have
hope for glorious things ahead. We will triumph today and tomorrow will
join Christ in glory!
3. Read this passage again. Immerse myself in the supremacy of Christ and
remember that I am in Him and He is in me! Read this verse as a humble
thanksgiving to the mighty God: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom
and knowledge of God!”(Rom 11:33)

Personal Note:
Christ is above everything in my life.  As a practical reflection, I was asked to list out three things that are most important to me.  I listed out marriage, ministry, and finance.  God called me to take care of those things by his grace and strength, but when I treat those things more superior than God, those things become an idol.  It is also encouraging to know that Christ is above all the rulers, institutions, and forces in the spiritual realms.