A Devotional Reflection for 2026
The Bible does not shy away from strong images: kings on thrones, battles fought, enemies defeated, weapons raised. Psalm 45 sings of a royal warrior; Isaiah speaks of a highway through the wilderness; Revelation announces a coming Judge; Zechariah’s song in Luke 1 celebrates deliverance from enemies. To modern ears—especially in a world weary of violence—these images can feel unsettling, even at odds with the Jesus who teaches us to love our enemies and lay down our lives.
Yet these Scriptures are not glorifying violence. They are speaking into fear.
Power Reimagined
Psalm 45 presents a king whose glory is bound to truth, humility, and righteousness. His “victory” is not conquest for its own sake, but the establishment of justice. This is already a clue that biblical power is not raw force, but moral authority. In a world where leadership in 2026 is often defined by domination, manipulation, or outrage, Scripture reminds us that true kingship serves the vulnerable and restores what has been broken.
Isaiah 35 expands this vision even further. There is no battle scene here—only deserts blooming, the blind seeing, the lame leaping, and the fearful finding courage. God’s reign does not arrive with scorched earth but with healing. The “highway” through the wilderness is not a road for armies, but a path home for the wounded and the lost.
From Enemies to Fear
Zechariah’s song in Luke 1 speaks of being “saved from our enemies,” but as his prophecy unfolds, it becomes clear that the deeper enemy is not another nation or army—it is fear itself. The promise is that we might serve God “without fear, in holiness and righteousness.” The salvation announced at the dawn of Jesus’ life is not revenge, but freedom: freedom from sin, from shame, from living small and guarded lives.
This is crucial for our time. In 2026, fear remains one of the most powerful forces shaping politics, relationships, and even faith communities. Scripture’s strong language about deliverance is not an endorsement of violence; it is God’s answer to a world held hostage by fear.
The Last Word Is Invitation
Revelation 22 brings the Bible’s story to its close, not with a battlefield, but with an invitation: “Come.” The One who is coming brings justice, yes—but also healing, mercy, and life. The final image is not a weapon, but water freely given. Grace is the last word.
The King of Revelation does not conquer by killing; He conquers by enduring the cross and rising from the grave. Judgment is not opposed to love—it is love’s refusal to let cruelty, lies, and death have the final say.
What This Means for Us in 2026
These Scriptures call us to rethink power, strength, and victory. God’s reign does not mirror the violence of the world; it redeems it. We are invited to lay down our own weapons—our bitterness, our need to be right, our fear of the other—and walk the holy highway of healing and trust.
In a fractured and anxious world, the Church’s calling is not to wield power like the nations do, but to witness to a different kind of King: one whose crown is compassion, whose authority flows from love, and whose victory is life for all who thirst.
The Spirit and the Bride still say, “Come.”
And in 2026, that invitation matters more than ever.
The Curious Pilgrims 