Ezekiel 17 - 08.24.23

SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 17:24

“And ALL the trees will KNOW that it is I, the LORD, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said!”

OBSERVATION:

Ezekiel is a parable describing the foolishness of the Kings of Judah during a very dark chapter in Israel’s history.

The King of Babylon carried off the King of Judah which was God’s Judgement on Israel.  King Zedekiah was installed by King Neduchadnezzar as the third King, but three times wasn’t a charm. Zedekiah was corrupt and doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. God sent his prophets and messengers to warn him—but for eleven years the warnings fell on deaf ears.

Finally, God had enough! God sent his wrath in the way of Babylon’s army coming against Israel in FULL force and everything and almost everyone was destroyed including the Temple that they mocked by pretending to serve God while participating in pagan rituals. The people who were spared were brought to Babylon as slaves.

APPLICATION:

Jesus is LORD!

My takeaway from this reading today is that Zedekiah somehow thought he was safe because he belonged in the lineage of God’s people. He was not living a life that reflected following God as his Lord. God is patient—and sent many warnings—but eventually the warnings ran out and God’s Judgement came.

Lately Larry and I have watched a few reality shows and I am a little taken back with these shows where people go to Church on Sundays and call themselves Christians—yet—their lives reflect nothing like being a Christ Follower…[Forgiveness, Love, Work Ethic] in fact there are brawl fights, gossip and lies, getting drunk, and getting even—which makes for Compelling television but not great Christ Followers. I’m wondering if these people genuinely believe they are following—Christ?

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven… I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21,23 NIV)

But I was quickly reminded of a time when God dealt with me on this very subject. A few years into my walk--it became evident that Jesus was my Savior, but I had not made HIM my LORD. I could easily say that my life didn’t fully reflect Christ’s values if put under a microscope. It cut deep to my heart and required a season of mourning and repentance. I’m so thankful for God’s patience with me. God is SO Good! God’s Rightful Place is—LORD and Savior. Meaning--HE has the right to tell me how to live my life according to His WORD—I don’t make a plan and then try to “add” God into it.

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10 NIV)

We are ALL on that line moving to the right from glory-to-glory. I want to keep moving to the right.

Because the only thing we will take into heaven with us is our Character.

“It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.” (Deuteronomy 13:4 NIV)

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV)

PRAYER

LORD Jesus,

Thank YOU for Your Goodness and Mercy and Grace. Your Love that is unending. Bring me to Your Well to be filled each day. Root me deeply in Your Word that is wisdom for every situation. Root me deeply in Your Love that breaks down all barriers to show Your Love to others. Help me to serve You in ALL of my ways. Give me Your eyes to see who the one is as I go out—where is the harvest ripe. Here I am Lord, send me. In Jesus Name, Amen

Revelation 22 - 8.23.23

Scripture

Revelation 22:20-21

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

Observation

This is the last chapter in Revelation and the verses I highlighted are the last 2 verses of Revelation (and God’s Word) also. “To the very end, the Book of Revelation emphasizes readiness and watchfulness. If we miss this practical lesson from the Book of Revelation – the lesson of readiness – then we miss the essential message of the book.” (enduringword.com)

Here are a few verses about being prepared and watchful for our Master’s return.

Luke 12:42-46

The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.  Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk.  The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.  He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.”

Application

Are we prepared and ready for the Lord’s coming?

When we live in light of eternity and His 2nd coming, there should be a shift in our priorities and mindset.

I found an article on desiringgod.com, from an interview with Pastor John Piper about how we are to practically prepare for the 2nd coming of Christ. He listed 3 things:

1. Pursue Christlikeness now. (Spend time with Jesus and imitate our lives after Him.)

2. Ready yourself for suffering. (Put on our armor and be in God’s Word daily so that we could recognize false prophets and the lies of the enemy and endure until the end.)

3. Work faithfully for Christ. (Whatever God has called us to do for His Kingdom, do it diligently and faithfully.)

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for the book of Revelation that points to the fact that You are coming back. I do not want to be found unready when you return. May we be watchful and ready in our daily lives until that day comes. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Revelation 21 - 8.22.23

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation 21:5  "He Who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"   

OBSERVATION:  God allowed John to see a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  John saw the Holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.  He heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look!  God's dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them.  They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Only those whose names are written in the Lambs Book of Life will be allowed into the New Jerusalem.  Jesus, the Lamb of God is the Only Way to God, and in God's new creation, only those who have put their faith in Jesus will inherit eternal blessings.  

How amazing that God already sees us in our glorified bodies!  "For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son...And those He predestined, He also called, those He called; He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." (Romans 8:29,30).

APPLICATION:  I look around and see the world spiraling out of control because of sin!  But it will not always be like this.  Even though there is so much suffering and pain in this world, God knew, and He told John to write down these words that are trustworthy and true, that one day He will make everything new!  "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the One Who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!"  ( Romans 8:18-21), ( 2 Cor 5:17).  

PRAYER:   I hold on to the promise that one day You will make all things new.  God, You are sovereign and all-knowing, and You already see us how we will be; in our glorified body!  Thank You for forgiving me of my sins, and for reconciling me to Yourself through Jesus, and for not counting my sins against me.  Because of that, it is my honor to be an ambassador for Christ, praying that I will be used to point others to Jesus as I share that they too can be forgiven of their sins, and be reconciled to You through Jesus.    

- Robin Orefice