S – And it makes everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, ¹⁷ so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of its name. 

Revelation 13:16–17 CSB

O – Commentary:

A Greco-Egyptian king had similarly required Jews to be branded with the ivy leaf, the emblem of Dionysus (*3 Maccabees 2:28–29); this is likewise a mark of ownership, a brand or tattoo indicating to which god or empire one belongs. The term for “mark” is, among other things, the regular term for the imperial stamp on documents and of the image of his head on coins.

 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 757.

A – It is interesting that in all that is happening in the times in Revelation,  “ownership” comes into play.  Satan is executing his agenda to rule the earth and enforces it with requiring the mark on their body.  Jesus also claimed ownership by taking the marks and wounds on his own body.  We get to choose each day who we will serve and surrender.  Jesus is my Lord and Savior.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Lord and Savior.  Thank you for choosing us before we knew you and demonstrating your love for us by going to the cross.  We choose you today and surrender our will to yours.