November 17 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

A new vision is given to John. The vision covers all of history in a short series of pictures, and it explains that history to those who hear and believe the Word.

The woman represents the people of God from the beginning to the end of the world. Great is her glory. The sickle of the moon is her footstool. The sun is her brilliant robe, and stars crown her head.

Sun, moon, and stars used to be worshiped by the people of this earth. In fact, millions are still superstitious about these heavenly bodies. But God says by means of this vision that the sun, the moon, and the stars are but the decorations of his beloved one.

In the past people argued for a long time about whether the sun or the earth was the center of the universe. Does the earth turn around the sun or does the sun turn around the earth? Here God says, "My own people constitute the heart of the universe. Everything turns around them."

When astronauts landed on the moon for the first time, a few Christians thought the matter over and declared that humans were transgressing their limits. They thought that the moon was so much God's domain that humans should not be permitted to touch it. But God says: "My beloved is my holy possession, and my people form my holy domain. Woe to anyone who does violence to her! As for the moon, it's just her footstool."

This is how important the children of God are to their heavenly Father, who is also the Ruler of the universe. God declares that these lamb­like children of his are the "salt" without which the earth would perish; they are the "light" without whom darkness would descend. God even declares that his people are the clue to the understanding of history.

The further explanation of the importance of the woman must be found in her Son, who is also her Lord.

REFLECTIONS

How do you know that you are important to God?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.