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Today’s reading is from Ezekiel 20. God is talking about saving the Jews as they left Egypt and sparing judgement on their children, but their children ended up doing the same things as the parents.

21-22 “‘But the children also rebelled against me. They neither followed my statutes nor kept my laws for living upright and well. And they desecrated my Sabbaths. I seriously considered dumping my anger on them, right there in the desert. But I thought better of it and acted out of who I was, not by what I felt, so that I might be honored and not blasphemed by the nations who had seen me bring them out.

Acting out of who we are, not what we feel. To me, this little phrase is a goldmine. God gives us a fine example of how to make decisions, even when our emotions are high and our souls on fire with anger. We need to step back, and decide to make our decision out of who we are, and not by what we’re feeling at the time.

We are part of so many situations where someone wrongs us, or they complain about their life and we think “complainer” instead of having compassion for them and their situation. More evidence that we simply act by what we feel at that particular moment, and not by who we are (and, even more so, who we are in Christ).

LORD GOD, may I evolve in your Word as I feed on it, and may it continually bring to light my shortcomings. Guide my decision making by who I am, and not by the emotions I’m feeling as they will so often lead me astray. May your ways be my ways God.

ezekiel, emotions, old testament, egypt, jews, children, anger, decisions

Today’s reading is from Ezekiel 18.

24 “The same thing goes for a good person who turns his back on an upright life and starts sinning, plunging into the same vile obscenities that the wicked person practices. Will this person live? I don’t keep a list of all the things this person did right, like money in the bank he can draw on. Because of his defection, because he accumulates sin, he’ll die.

It’s funny how this falls right in line with faith, not works, saving someone’s soul. It’s not about what we do in this life; it’s about that faith we have that Jesus is who he says he is. It’s about believing, truly believing, he died for us personally. He’s the savior of mankind, the personal savior of all who have breathed, are breathing, or will ever draw breath.

jesus, savior, ezekiel, old testament

Today’s reading is from Ezekiel 2.

1 It said, “Son of man, stand up. I have something to say to you.” 2 The moment I heard the voice, the Spirit entered me and put me on my feet. As he spoke to me, I listened. 3-7 He said, “Son of man, I’m sending you to the family of Israel, a rebellious nation if there ever was one. They and their ancestors have fomented rebellion right up to the present. They’re a hard case, these people to whom I’m sending you—hardened in their sin. Tell them, ‘This is the Message of God, the Master.’ They are a defiant bunch. Whether or not they listen, at least they’ll know that a prophet’s been here. But don’t be afraid of them, son of man, and don’t be afraid of anything they say. Don’t be afraid when living among them is like stepping on thorns or finding scorpions in your bed. Don’t be afraid of their mean words or their hard looks. They’re a bunch of rebels. Your job is to speak to them. Whether they listen is not your concern. (emphasis mine) They’re hardened rebels.

O: How often is this the case, but we try to take too much on ourselves. How often do we think we have to “close the deal”, when it’s never really in our hands to begin with? Sure, it’s up to us to be God’s church on earth, and to spread the Good News, but ultimately it’s Jesus that saves, not us. Perhaps if we’d just focus on passing on the good news, and showing genuine love to others, instead of doubting whether we have it in us to “make a difference”, and in turn doing nothing at all, the world would be vastly different.

A: Just take that step. Show Jesus’ love to others by being genuinely concerned for them. Find things out about them. Get to know them. Follow that small, still voice inside. Pray. Fast. Seek God’s face.

P: LORD GOD, I am continually amazed at how you use your word to speak to us, even in this day and age. Your writings are eternal and everlasting, and as long as we leave our hearts open to your word, you will continue to speak to us. Soften our hearts to your word. Maybe this historical record of who you are, and how you do things, permeate our being. Less of us, God, and more of you.

life journaling, ezekiel, outreach, ministry, speaking, old testament, god

Today’s reading is from Psalm 144.

15 How blessed the people who have all this!
How blessed the people who have God for God!

O: I’m particularly interested in that last line. Many people don’t have the God of the universe as their God. Instead, they worship clothes, a lifestyle, another person, their career, drugs, and other things. By having the God of the universe as my God, I am assured not only of a life after this one, but of a relationship with God’s son Jesus. It can be a real, personal relationship, which is a requirement to get to heaven once I pass from this life.

That doesn’t mean I should live my life sheltered, just trying to “hold on for one more day” until I can get to Glory. No no. Live to help the poor and the downtrodden. That’s what life is all about. Reach out to those Jesus came to save.

A: I must not succumb to living with the “fortress” mentality, where I go to church to get my $20 in the basket then simply live life the way I want to until the following Sunday, and then repeat ad nauseum. Church isn’t a social club where I make the right connections for a couple hours, smile the smile, talk the talk, then leave to go back to what my broken self desires.

Church is a way to refuel with other followers to prepare yourself for the coming week. My mind should always be on those who don’t know Jesus, and how I can help show them the love of the son of the Creator.

P: Lord God, thank you for David’s words. Thank you for the reminder that you are the God above all others gods. None are above or beside you. You alone are God. You alone!

david, psalms, psalm, church, life journaling, christ, jesus