Re: Verse reading–Psalm 119:9-16; Acts 17:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (day five) This Sunday we will celebrate the accomplishment of 30 High School Seniors. We will encourage, we will cry, we will cheer, we will remember our own youth, and be reminded of our own mortality. Perhaps the BEST thing we will do for these young men and women is give them a Bible from ALL of us at FBCSA. It really signals the best things about this church: our love for the Scripture and our hope (God will continue to grow His Kingdom now in a downtown church, and in future generations). This gift really is from all of us since we have held each Bible and highlighted hundreds of verses that have given us hope, life, strength, peace, and joy from our collective experiences and wisdom. And Sunday, we will pray that by these scriptures they will find the Lord and then the Life He has promised. Psalm 71:18 “O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”
Tag: Lord
Prone
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 119:9-16; Acts 17:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (Day Three)
“Do not let me stray from your commands.” Songs don’t get much darker than this old hymn’s take on the fallen human condition: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.” That song gets it, and the psalmist knew it to be true long before that: The spirit might be willing, but the flesh is weaker than we thought. Sometimes, we’d rather sin than breathe. Our weakened selves need the words of scripture to brace us, to allow us to stand and take faltering steps Christward. Read, read.
Mine eye have seen the GLORY
Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 10:18-19; 11:22-23; 40:1-2; 43:1-9 (day six)
“And I saw the GLORY of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his GLORY.” (43:2) “Mine eyes have seen the GLORY of the coming of the Lord.”—Julia Ward Howe. Whether civil war song or prophet’s vision, the hope is the same. Christ will come to His people with great GLORY. The Hebrew word for GLORY is kabod. It came from the word kabed which meant “heavy”. Heavy as compared to plastic or disposable. A contrast to a world that is not real, substantial and eternal. Ultimately, His GLORIOUS coming is the only hope for this sin-sick, self-spent world. God, Himself, will be the light and the justice. “For the Son of Man is going to come in the GLORY of His Father with His angels, and will repay every man according to his deeds.” (Matthew 16:27) GLORY? GLORY. Hallelujah!
Leading Lessons
Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 10:18-19, 11:22-23; 40:1-2; 43:1-9 (day five)
In the verses between the listed passages is an ironic scene. Found in the first few verses of chapter 11, Ezekiel is now at the east gate where 25 “leaders” are discussing new building projects for the city. Really??!! Talk about clueless!! The irony is two fold: 1-They are totally unaware of the destruction taking place, 2- They are in the very spot where the Glory of the Lord just passed. What a sad picture of a leader. Good leaders recognize where God’s presence is, and where it isn’t. Good leaders strive to understand God’s plan and purpose. Good leaders listen, look, and learn so that they can influence others to find the Lord. Good leaders are desperate for God’s presence to be where they are (homes, churches, nations). May all who lead, learn these lessons!!
The Gospel Message
RE Verse reading–Ezekiel 10:18-19, 11:22-23; 40:1-2; 43:1-9 (day four)
At least two things permeate this passage…the glory of God and His promise of hope. Ezekiel’s visions are of the indescribable majesty and glory of the Lord. Israel’s disobedience has separated them from God’s glory. It was Ezekiel’s job to deliver God’s message to His people. If Israel would put away their harlotry and repent of their iniquities, God would dwell among them forever. This was 25 years into their captivity of 70 years…it was the beginning of Passover. Passover was a celebration of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. Here He was promising to do it again. All Israel had to do was repent and turn from their disobedience and God would live among them forever. Forgiveness from sin, eternal life…what a promise. Don’t you wish we could have a promise like that?
Many Waters
Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 10:18-19, 11:22-23; 40:1-2; 43:1-9 (day two).
And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. (Ezekiel 43:2 ESV) Last week we read how the Lord breathed the breath of life into the dry bones. The Spirit of God moved among them and filled them with life by the sweet life-giving breath. Now he speaks with a different voice. Have you stood on the beach and heard the mighty roar of the ocean before? Unrelenting, powerful, unequalled. He still speaks, but which voice will get our attention?
Ichabod
Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 10:18-19, 11:22-23; 40:1-2; 43:1-9 (day one)
“And she called the boy Ichabod, saying, ‘the glory has departed from Israel.’ ” (1 Samuel 4:21) Old story. The daughter-in-law of Eli, upon hearing the news of a great defeat and the enemy capture of the Ark of the Covenant, kneels down and gives birth and dies. (On how many levels can sin be tragic?) Before death comes, she names the boy Ichabod, which means “the glory of God has departed.” Years later, it happens again. Not the birth, but the departure of God’s glory, God’s protection/power. Ezekiel sees it in a vision. “The glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple.” (10:18) Then later, “the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood over the mountain which is east of the city.” (11:23) Graphic. Sobering. It is what David dreaded, “Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:11)
Visionary
Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 37:1-14 (day seven)
“The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley.” (v 1) Eyes that see the invisible are a gift from God. ( 2 Corinthians 4:18) One of the promised outcomes of the Spirit’s presence and fullness is “your young men shall see visions” (Acts 2) Ezekiel is not unique in this experience. Isaiah. Daniel. Ananias (Acts 9, the conversion of Saul). Peter (Acts 10). Paul (2 Corinthians 12). All of these people give testimony to a Spirit-assisted perception of invisible reality. Vision! Stands to reason, doesn’t it? The Spirit came to “guide us into ALL truth.” (John 16:13) If so, then invisible truth, truth only seen with Spiritual eyes must be included on the list. May the church be glad for such grace. “Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me, Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.”–Clara Scott.
Over
Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 37:1-14 (day three)
“I have done it, declares the Lord.” We assume the finality of things. We think we have no choice. We believe that the best days are behind us. We tell ourselves a story of defeat based on our own limited understanding. But it’s not over until the Lord says it’s over. Even when you yourself have brought about your painful circumstances, you can find your way to the future. You’ll have to take your cues from the Lord’s wisdom, but you can do it. The road ahead will be hard, and the losses painful, but your life is not over, nor are the days to come destined to condemn you to the “second best”. The Lord is not called our Redeemer for nothing.
History here
Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 20:1-32 (day seven)
“Will you judge them, son of Man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their fathers.” (v 4) It is confusing. In Ezekiel 18 we learned that personal responsibility is what matters. The choices of our fathers do not determine who we are with God. In Ezekiel 20 the Lord speaks of the “detestable practices of the fathers” as if these past mistakes have current relevance. Which is it? Both, actually! History exercises a significant influence on our lives. Unless/until we choose to change/break those patterns (and this by the grace of God) we are destined to repeat and perpetuate past patterns. Without repentance, examples and experiences from the past will control the present. “Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers. . .(and then expect that) I will be inquired of by you?” (v 30-31) It is not the past that breaks my relationship with God. It is the present pattern of continued sin.