Thankful to serve

Today's Readings: Ezekiel 24:15-27, 25:1-17, 29:1-16, 30:20-26, 31:1-18; Jeremiah 21:1-14, 34:1-22

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"Give justice each morning to the people you judge! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors.  Otherwise, my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins." Jeremiah 21:12

Again, most of the readings for today were not the kind that give that warm and fuzzy feeling --  the death of Ezekiel's wife, the messages to the people of Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia, and the warning for Zedekiah to name just a few.  However, when the Lord is giving Jeremiah the message for the Kings of Judah, it just hit home for me today.  This verse did not speak to me because of the threat of anger from my Lord, but because of what he was so boldly encouraging -- service to others.  In this week, where I am given the opportunity to 'officially' be thankful to God for his many blessings, I take this verse as a message to me to show my thankfulness by being a blessing to others.

My response to God: Oh most gracious and giving God, thank you for all the ways you have blessed my life -- even those ways that I questioned or doubted.  Help me to be just and helpful to those being oppressed.  

Standing in the gap

Today's Readings: Ezekiel 22:17-31, 23:1-49, 24:1-14; 2 Kings 24:20b-25:2; Jeremiah 39:1, 52:3b-5 

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:
"Your princes plot conspiracies just as lions stalk their prey.  They devour innocent people, seizing treasures and extorting wealth.  They make many widows in the land.  Your priests have violated my instructions and defiled my holy things.  They make no distinction between what is holy and what is not.  Ezekiel 22:25-26a

"Even common people oppress the poor, rob the needy, and deprive foreigners of justice." Ezekiel 22:29

"I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn't have to destroy the land, but I found no one.  So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger.  I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins.  I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!" Ezekiel 22:30b-31

The Lord continued to use allegories to try to get his point across.  He compared the people of Israel to the slag remaining after silver is smelted -- useless and worthless yet worthy of the furious fire poured upon them through God's anger.  He compared them to the two adulterous sisters who prostituted themselves and were then rejected.  In both of these stories, the Lord was trying to get across to the people the fierce judgment that they would receive and how he desired to find that one who would 'stand in the gap'.

My response to God: Dear Heavenly Father, help me to seek holiness.  Lead me to that place, far from from the worthless slag of today, so that I can be one to stand in the gap for you.

Obedience for life

Today's Readings: Ezekiel 20:1-49, 21:1-32, 22:1-16

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"But the people of Israel rebelled against me, and they refused to obey my decrees there in the wilderness.  They wouldn't obey my regulations, even though obedience would have given them life." Ezekiel 20:13a

"But their children, too, rebelled against me.  They refused to keep my decrees and follow my regulations, even though obedience would have given them life." Ezekiel 20:21a

These chapter continue with the Lord's judgment on his rebellious people.  These verses, in particular, show how the decisions made by the people of Israel not only affected themselves, personally, but affected the generations of people that came after them. Even after the Lord graciously allowed them to survive through the wilderness and be brought to the promised land, those blessed ones were still disobedient.  Even though (as discussed in the previous day's reading from Ezekiel 18) a child does not "pay for the parent's sins", they do have to make the decision to "do what is just and right and keep my decrees" (Ezekiel 18:19).  But, that did not happen.

My response to God: Lord, help me to obey your decrees.  Guide me to full obedience to you, O God, so that I can be the right kind of teacher of your ways to my own children. 

Personal responsibility

Today's Readings: Ezekiel 17:1-24, 18:1-32, 19:1-14

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:
"Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.  But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die.  All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done." Ezekiel 18:20b-22

Again, the Lord is showing his grace and mercy and his utter desire for all of his children to repent and live a righteous life.  I also appreciate how this verse encourages personal responsibility, which is a virtue that is getting harder to find these days.  

My response to God: Oh Lord, lead me towards you and away from all things wicked.  Keep me from the temptations of anger, pride, and selfishness.  Guide me to the righteous life you desire for me to live.  Thank you for your forgiveness.

Faithfulness and forgiveness

Today's Readings: Ezekiel 14:1-23, 15:1-8, 16:1-63

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"Now this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will give you what you deserve, for you have taken your solemn vows lightly by breaking your covenant.  Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were young, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.  Then  you will remember with shame all the evil you have done...You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silent shame when I forgive you of all that you have done.  I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!"  Ezekiel 16:59-63

All of this days reading was so solemn for me, until the end (the verses quoted above).  First, we learned of the idolatry of Israel's leaders, the the comparison of Jerusalem to a useless vine and then as an unfaithful wife and prostitute.  Why is it that I am continuously surprised by the amazing grace of our Lord?  Should I not expect it by now?  The final verses of today's reading again showed that grace.  Even though God's people deserved judgment, and they will receive that judgment, God still holds faithful with his covenant and forgives! Hallelujah.

My response to God: Dear God, thank you for your faithfulness and forgiveness.  Help me to hold on to those gifts and be forever grateful.  Make my heart and soul and mind to never take them for granted.  Engrave your words upon my heart.

The same today as yesterday

Today's Readings: Ezekiel 10:1-22, 11:1-25, 12:1-28, 13:1-23

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear.  For they are a rebellious people."  Ezekiel 12:1

It is the same today as it was thousands of years ago.  If there were prophets on the earth today, what would God be telling them to tell us now? 

"Then they will know that I am the Lord."  Ezekiel 12:16b

"Then you will know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel 12:20b

"Then you will know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel 13:21b

"Then you will know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel 13:23b

I could not help but notice the repetition within these verses that were so close in proximity.  God was telling Ezekiel of the things that he would do to get the attention of the people -- the rebellious ones that were refusing to see and hear his word.  Yes, one day everyone will know that He is Lord.

"Then this message came to me from the Lord; 'Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, 'He's talking about the distant future.  His visions won't come true for a long, long time.' Therefore, tell them, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No more delay! I will now do everything I have threatened. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!'" Ezekiel 12:26-28

It seems to me that so much of today's reading reminds me how much the people of today are like those of Ezekiel's time.  We also get so involved in our lives and activities of this world, thinking that the time of the Lord's return will not be in our lifetime -- we do not even act as if it is a blip on the radar.  We  need to live our lives today as if we truly believed what we say we believe -- that Jesus came to this earth and died to save us and would one day return to rule.

My response to God: Oh God, forgive me for ignoring you.  Continue to draw me to your Word so that I can be reminded of my purpose here on this earth.  Strengthen me so that I will live my life as a witness to you in a way to bring others closer to you.  Give me the words to speak to grow believers in you.