Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 20:1-32 (day four)
“But who is keeping count?” God is! In this passage, God rehearses for Israel their rebellious history…a history that should have brought about their destruction. Verses 9, 14, and 22 tell us of God’s mercy…”But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations.” God preserved Israel, not because they deserved it, but to protect His name. God is jealous for his reputation and as His children, we should not do anything that would give cause for the world to profane His name. Aren’t we just like Israel? We continually fail to be obedient to God and don’t deserve His mercy. When we yield control of our lives to Him, He has promised to forgive and save our lives. It is not merit, it is His mercy and trustworthiness to keep His Word. What a great God we serve!
Author: Larry Soape
Larry Soape is the Associate Pastor for Median & Senior Adults, and Missions at FBCSA.
Active Faith
Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 18:1-18 (day four) Verse 9 says, “if He walks in My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully-he is righteous and will surely live, declares the Lord God.” This verse seems to mirror the message found in Habakkuk 2:4. “…the righteous will live by his faith.” When we live by faith, we live in obedience to God’s commands. Ezekiel has listed a number of things that the righteous man will or will not do. Faith is a very active state…when we walk by faith, we are not passive and inactive. Some believe that to walk by faith is blind, thoughtless motion…not so! Faithfulness is yielding to God’s way of life…putting aside our prideful pursuit of our own will. In Romans 1:17, Paul introduced this same truth into his own theology…”the righteous man will live by faith.” The truths of God’s Word never change…it is still true today!
Obedience to His Call
Re: Verse reading – Ezekiel 1:28-3:4 (day four)
The call of God is unmistakable! Verse 2 says, “As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me.” Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, David, Habakkuk, Paul…the list goes on. When God spoke to one of His servants, things happened. Ezekiel heard from God and his life was set…he would be a spokesman for God. God expected obedience from Ezekiel. He said whether they listen to you or not…they are stubborn and obstinate and rebellious…they will know that a prophet has been among them. That is God’s command to us…we are to go and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20) We are not responsible for people’s response to our evangelistic efforts, we are only responsible for being obedient to go and tell. Just like He promised to protect Ezekiel, He will protect us when we are obedient. So what is keeping us from going?
Sow the Seeds
Re: Verse reading–Jeremiah 31:27-34; 32:1-15 (day four)
“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast. As I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to overthrow, to destroy and to bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the Lord. (verses 27-28) God is involved and in control of all of history. Nothing happened in Israel that was not a part of God’s plan or apart from His permission. When we hear the news today, as believers, we know that God is in authority and control over all of history. It is not at the whim of an earthly ruler, or nation, or ideology. He is still in charge of history. God is in charge of First Baptist San Antonio as well. It is God who will build and plant His church here. May it be our constant prayer that He will sow the house of FBCSA with the seed of man to His glory!
You Can Live
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 21:1-10, 38:1-6 (day four)
King Zedekiah thought that his enemy was Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. What he did not realize was that he was his own enemy. God had warned Judah if they did not repent and turn from their wicked ways, they would face the power of Babylon. Babylon was marching against Judah because they had not done that. God was using Babylon to deliver judgment on Judah. Even in the midst of judgment though, God was offering hope. Jeremiah, in verse 9, says if the people will flee the city and surrender to the armies of Babylon…in other words, yield to the judgment of God and do not battle against it…they would live. To yield to God’s plan would require putting aside pride, and in humility, to yield to Him. Sounds like repentance and salvation doesn’t it? Are you willing to humbly yield to God’s plan for your life?
With All Your Heart
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 29:1-14 (day four)
Verse 29:13 says, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” The key word in this verse is ‘when’…when you search for Me with all your heart. God will not accept halfhearted attempts at prayer. He will not accept less than our all. Often, people are told that all they have to do to be saved is to accept Jesus…one prayer and we are saved for life and eternity. Not so. Jesus expects not only our repentance from sin, but He wants our life! Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Our life is not our own…when Christ comes into our heart, we are completely His!
The Word
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 36 (Day Four)
Even in today’s world, the thought is often the same…if we just take away the Bible, the people will not hear about Jesus. Jeremiah was obedient to write down every word that God had told him concerning Judah. He dictated the Word to Baruch who faithfully wrote them on the scroll. The hope was that when the people of Judah heard the words, they would repent and turn from their sinful ways. When the words were read, there were some that were moved by them…they were in fear (v. 16). It was the leader, the King, who must respond in repentance in order to lead the nation. King Jehoiakim thought he could eliminate the message of the scroll by just destroying the scroll. What he would learn was that the Word of God is not dependent upon the paper it is written on. The power is in the Word itself. The places in today’s world where the Word is spreading quickest are the places where it is illegal to own a Bible. The power is in the Word!
Why Does Evil Prosper?
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 11:18-23; 12:1-6; 17:14-18; 20:7-18 (day four) In 12:1, Jeremiah asks the question that has long been on the lips of man…”Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?” Habakkuk, a contemporary of Jeremiah asked the same question, “Why does God allow evil to go unpunished in Judah?” Have you asked it before?…”Why does God allow evil to go unpunished in America?” When we look at the situation with our finite human eyes, the injustice seems overwhelming. Through eyes of faith though, we know that God will hold the unjust and evil accountable. In Jeremiah’s day, God would eventually punish Babylon…evil will be judged, but it will be in God’s timing. Habakkuk voiced the words that became the basis for Paul’s theological position in Romans…”The just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4) We stand watch on the wall to see what God is doing!
Clay
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 18:1-12; 19:1-15 (day four)
Jeremiah says that God is looking for clay. (Verse 18:6) Clay has no thoughts, no strengths, no weaknesses, and no will of its own. God is looking for people who are willing to allow Him to create them however He chooses. Have you ever told God what your strengths are so that He can shape a plan for your life using them? Have you ever told Him that particular areas of your life are weaknesses for you so He won’t try to use you in those ministry areas? God can shape and mold your life however He chooses. He is the potter, we are the clay. The sooner we learn that lesson, the sooner we will be effective in His ministry. It is our willingness to submit to Him…not our skills and talents…that makes us useful vessels. Yield your life to the potter’s hand…His skill will bear fruit!
Heed His Call
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 7:1-16 (day four)
Jeremiah refers to Shiloh, which was a period of Israel’s history over 300 years before. They had the same problems then…they rejected God’s principles, rejected His dominion over them, and worshipped other gods. Then, they would go to the Temple and expect God to honor them, provide for them, and protect them. God destroyed the Temple in discipline. Now, here in Jeremiah’s time, Judah is doing the same thing. God warns Jeremiah not to even pray for them because He won’t listen. (V. 16) They will be punished. Fast forward 600+ years…Jesus is in the Temple quoting Jeremiah that they are doing the same thing. They are making God’s house a den of thieves. Israel will not learn. How about us? Do we believe God will not punish us when we disobey? Are we so disoriented to God that we can’t even recognize our sin? Proverbs 1:33 says, “But he who listens to Me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of fear.” Proverbs 1:20-33 is good wisdom to follow.