Being an Example

The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover the lower part of your face or eat the customary food of mourners ." So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.

Ezekiel 24:15-18

I read this and later in the chapter God used his testimony to be an example to the people of Israel. Does God really take a servant through this much pain and suffering to be an example to others? Did Ezekiel really have to endure such hardships losing his wife in order to be an example to God's chosen people? Yes! Jesus did it with a blind man so that God's glory will be made known (jn 9:3). We live among people who need to follow someone's lead instead of just following commands.

I understand what God is telling me here but my selfishness is preventing me from acting. I know it's not about the temporary and to be used to further God's kingdom is amazing. So how would I go if I had to release a loved one into God's hands forever? How would I deal with the pain and agony? To be honest, I feel I would go through lots of emotional struggles until I allow the Holy Spirit to grant me peace... but this is only reactionary. How would I measure up to being told that this was going to happen in advance? Would I still allow God's work to be done to minister and change a nation or will I go kicking and screaming for God to choose someone else to do it? I realize that my faith is limited but God calls us only to have a little; mustard seed little. So I need to take small steps and be faithful with the little that I have so that He can entrust greater things for me.

Heavenly Father, absolutely all praises are to You! I can talk all day about our conversations but that does little. I need to be a person of action, not just good intentions. LORD God, I pray that You consume me with Your Spirit to overcome my laziness in this world. Pour into me a discernment to do Your commands not just agree. I pray that I can lead those around me into obedience, as Ezekiel did. Thank You for another day to win more over to You, my King. In the saving name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!

Does God Ignore Sinners

"Therefore say to the house of Israel: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did and lust after their vile images? When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your sons in the fire—you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will not let you inquire of me.

Ezekiel 20:30-31

Does this mean that God will not listen to our cries when we are in the middle of sin? Isn't this how those who come to know Jesus the first time (or others) step into His grace? I don't think this passage is saying God will ignore. What I believe is God is making a point that when we "continue to defile ourselves" we are refusing to hear what He has for us; thus making His voice unheard in the first place. Our Sovereign LORD wants to be in a relationship with us; it's really the foundation of why we are created. So the main point in this passage is that our sin makes us deaf to God's voice and we need to choose Him in order to be cleansed.

I think we all have our strongholds; the sin that keeps coming back over and over again. For some reason the devil has succeeded in latching onto some part of us, whether physical or spiritual, sin that hits home. The worst sins are those that are in the dark because we can't offer them to our Healer and Forgiver. We need to do this in the most simple way. Get rid of the vile images that pull us back into sin (Ez 2o:8)! If I trace my sins back to a source, it always stems from the same areas so I know where the devil see the kinks in my armor. The devil knows that I'm easily discouraged; why wouldn't he attack there? So I need to make known my weaknesses, not avoid them, to my brothers and sisters so that they can pray with me and pray when I'm at my weak points. The power of prayer can't be expressed enough. It's when the body of Christ do church together.

Father God, thank You for making known my weaknesses. You know exactly what they are and You've given me a wonderful way to overcome any stronghold, the blood of Christ Jesus! You equip me with the power of prayer, which calls upon Your mighty Spirit to accomplish the works of Your heart. I pray LORD that I never sin again. This isn't in ignorance because I know I'm still flesh; but it's more of a decision to die to my old ways (rm 6:2). I want to be that new creation even in this world. In the masterful name of Jesus I pray, Amen!

Not About Being Fair

Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? "But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die.

Ezekiel 18:23-24

The first thought I had was about a person who loved God and lived a life of service. Something happened along the way and he turned to his evil ways by sinning. What this scripture is saying is that nothing he's done in the past counts, absolutely nothing. All the good deeds and sacrifices mean nothing; how can this be? Then I come back to God's word when He says "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23). Everything we have in this world, most especially eternity, is a gift from God and must be appreciated as such. Nothing is ever deserved other than death.

Every time I think about what's fair I'm quickly reminded that fair, in the world's sense, means what I deserve. It's selfish in nature but we constantly convince ourselves that life is about being fair. Was it fair that Jesus had to die on the cross for sins He never committed? Is it fair that a convicted killer is able to live a life full of destruction only to be welcomed into God's kingdom with those who lived lives full of good deeds? Life isn't ever about being fair, it's about living according to our callings in this world. We need to forget about doing things to receive our portion compared to the next person. We need to be obedient to Him and only Him. Yes, I definitely know this is difficult and a struggle but we need to focus on the goal and not the distractions around us.

Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing me with a place in heaven. That really is all I should be focused on but I don't. I look around me and think that the temporary is just as important as the eternal. LORD, I pray to be released of this stronghold and desire to have blinders fastened securely to the temptations of the devil. No, I pray not to have blinders but that I can resist through the power of the Holy Spirit to recognize the attack and use it for Your glory! I invite You into my day, my decisions, my heart... I love You Father God. In the matchless name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!

Cheating on God

... your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD. " 'But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his.

Ezekiel 16:14-15

This is a perfectly clear picture of our adultery to our first love. God is speaking to all His loved ones, those who He picked up out of our sin and cleaned, dressed and made beautiful. We enjoyed this wonderful compassion only to turn against the very one who loves us and uses all these gifts to entertain our own pleasures with others undeserving. The LORD speaks of prostitution of our hearts and bodies. Whenever we use God's giftings for temporary gain and not God's kingdom, we are committing adultery. God is calling us back to Him because in some way we are all cheating on our LORD.

This is a timely message. Just last night I was feeling depressed and alone. I wanted to break out of God's covering for just a moment and do what I wanted to do. I wanted to do what pleases me and only me, regardless of how others feel. These attacks are not from God and definitely schemes from the devil to displace me from what God's calling me to do. I need to remember about sufferring, perseverance, character & hope. These things must happen so that I can mature as a child of God and rise to another level in faith. Breaking out of my cruise control faith and into a new gear is what God wants; not a busted engine smoking on the shoulder lane.

Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing me with choice. A choice not to disobey but to prove I love You with all my heart. When we choose You over and over, it pleases You and glorifies Your precious name. Help me to mature and grow faithfully with full confidence that this will amount to something in Heaven. I put aside my flesh, my desires, my agenda for Yours. Keep me close and safe to Your wonderful body. In the precious name of our Mighty Lord, King Jesus, Amen!

Motives Revealed

" 'Because they lead my people astray, saying, "Peace," when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, "Where is the whitewash you covered it with?"

Ezekiel 13:10-12

In the book of Ezekiel, God is pouring His judgment upon Jerusalem's false prophets. He's saying that all the false teachings that lead the people of Israel astray have eternal consequences and punishment will rain down on them. Nothing false can fly below God's radar even if it fools men on earth. We are being reminded here too that God can see everything beneath our skin and even in our thoughts. God knows when our motives become selfish and misaligned, and will take action to reveal His glory.

I need to hear this, not because I'm a false prophet or anything but to keep my motives aligned with God. Whether I'm working, serving in ministry or at home serving my wife; I need to allow my motives and agendas to be filtered by the Holy Spirit. It's easy to get initial direction from God only to pick up the playbook from there and do things as I feel I'm capable of doing. Somewhere in the middle of receiving God's vision and the outcome, I tend to insert my flesh on the tasks. I must stop daily to hear God's mighty voice. It's so important because it's not about doing things right, it's about doing the right things; effectiveness over efficiency.

Thank You Heavenly Father for making Yourself known to all sinners. I pray LORD that You watch over my heart in a way that protects it from attacks from the devil but open to where I can remain compassionate, loving and transparent. I seek You in every person and situation, for You are everywhere. In Jesus' Mighty Name I pray, Amen!