American Idols

Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 18:1-18 (day five)  All the talk of idols seems really outdated and not applicable to 21st Century American Christian Culture.  Right??  Wrong!!  That’s what I was thinking until I began reading a book I just purchased by Kyle Idleman.  He writes, “What if the gods of here and now are not cosmic deities with strange names?  What if they take identities that are so ordinary that we don’t recognize them as ‘gods’ at all?  What if we do our ‘kneeling’ and ‘bowing’ with our imaginations, our cash, our search engines, our calendars?  What if I told you that every sin you are struggling with, every discouragement you are dealing with, even the lack of purpose you’re living with are because of idolatry?”

So, I again have such a respect and hope in reading the scripture.  I also have an opportunity to search my heart and life and look for idols while reflecting on Ezekiel 18.

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!

Inner honesty

RE Verse reading–Ezekiel 20:1-32 (day six)  “As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me.”  (v 2)  When the elders of Judah got a “no comment” response from God, it must have been a shock.  Isn’t God supposed to “let bygones be bygones”?  Isn’t He supposed to be available whenever we are ready to talk?  Yes, but the condition for such a conversation is inner honesty.  What God is not willing to do is have a conversation with people who avoid the long issues that impact the relationship.  Idolatry, a pattern of disobedience, disregard for the Sabbath, address these issues and the heart of God will open in mercy.  Pretend they don’t matter and hear Heaven’s silence.  “Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom”–Psalm 51:6.  Facing  the truth about ourselves is always the hardest task.  We all avoid it, but God requires it. “Come, let us reason. . .”

Responsibility

Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 18 (Day Three) 
“I will judge each of you according to your own ways.”  If that is so, are we off the hook for the kind of society we live in?  Does the prophet’s declaration of the Lord’s word in fact create a public/private divide so that as long as I remain pure in my behavior, I bear no responsibility addressing what goes on around me?  The Pharisees thought so.  In truth, though, Ezekiel’s words do nothing of the sort.  Because we are responsible for our own sin, the question is not, “Why did my ancestors get us here?”  Rather, the question becomes: “What am I going to do about the world in which I live?”

Standing On Our Own

Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 18:1-18 (day two)
Each year when I was in the classroom I would meet young people with varying degrees of baggage (spiritual, physical, emotional, etc.). And the more I got to know each of them and their personal stories, I realized much of what they brought to the table was somehow inherited. Like it or not the consequences of our sin will impact our children. It was always disheartening to see the damage parental choices cause their children. But there is another side to that story. I would often see children who were not encumbered by those choices. Young men and women who realized the folly of their parent’s decision and pledged to take a different path. Their journeys were often more difficult than others, but they understood the reward more clearly than anyone else. This is the promise in Ezekiel and thanks be to God that we are no longer condemned by the sins of our parents. God has given each of us a place to stand and choose which path we will take.

New day. No victims.

Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 18:1-18 (day one)
” ‘The fathers eat the sour grapes, but the children’s teeth are set on edge’. . . you are not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore.”  (v 2-3)  It was radical thinking!  After Jerusalem was destroyed, the people of Judah began to drift into despondent “national fatalism”.  They felt helpless and hopeless because God was judging them for the sins of their parents.  There was no way out!  Very similar to a modern mistake.  Many feel trapped by the mistakes their parents made, wounded,  helpless to do anything about it.  Ezekiel saw a different day coming.  (He saw the day we live in now.)  He saw a day when people could know the empowering presence of God through a personal relationship with Him by faith in His Son.  We are not victims now!  What our parents did or didn’t do, what our circumstances gave or didn’t give does not limit who we can be in Christ.

A “stand up” person

Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 1:28; 2:1-10; 3:1-4 (day seven)
“Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”  (2:1)  We are not helpless, not without strength or duty.   God instructs us to stand up.  Makes it a condition for further communication with us.  It requires courage.  Large challenges are ahead.   The Holiness of God and our consequent fear of failure will discourage us from trying.  Even so, God does not want us to cower or retreat from Him or His holy assignment.  He wants us to stand at attention and accept His commission.  It was true for Ezekiel and Joshua and true for us.  “Be strong and courageous. . .only be strong and courageous. . .Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord God is with you wherever you go.”  (Joshua 1:6-7.9)  Most of us would rather take a nap.  God commands us to stand and face a holy and demanding vision.

Stubborn and obstinate

Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 1:28; 2:1-10; 3:1-4 (day six) 
“I am sending you to. . . stubborn and obstinate children.”  (2:4)  It was more verdict than compliment.  When God described the people of Judah, He focused on their pride, their resistance to change.  I have recently become aware of this same stubbornness in my own life.  I am slow  to respond to the voice of the Spirit if the direction is not what I want.  Unconsciously, habitually, I prefer my will over His, turning to Him as a “last resort”, only when I have tried everything else.  Dangerous!  The human heart is not naturally soft to the Spirit.  Unless I HUMBLE MYSELF, my ego will stay unchallenged and in charge.  James describes the painful process.   “Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into gloom.  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”  (James 4:9-10)  Repentance from self is the painful grace of God.

God Prepares & Encourages

Re: Verse reading – Ezekiel 1:28-3:4 (day five)

God begins to call/commission Ezekiel into service and ministry.  In chapter 1,  He “reveals” to Ezekiel His character and nature.

Windstorm (1:4) – Power – God is never helpless.

Throne  (1:26) Sovereignty – God always is in control (even in difficult circumstances).

Fire  (1:27) Holiness- God judges and punishes sin and disobedience.

Rainbow (1:28) Kindness and Mercy.  Even in judgment, God remembers mercy.

Scripture is full of pictures, accounts, and experiences that, if we look and listen, can help us discover and understand more about the character and nature of God.  Often times, God will “reveal” parts of His nature and character that will be of great value and insight to the heart of each believer in the midst of circumstances and preceding the future.  Looking back, can you see how each one of these pictures Ezekiel sees, encourages and prepares him for the task that lies ahead?

May we be willing to ask God do the same in our hearts.  (Scripture, Sermons, Prayer, Worship, Service, and Fellowship)  What are you learning about the Lord?

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?