Bible Chapter: Ezekiel 13 & 14
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
God sent His message to the people. It was against the false prophets of Israel because they were inventing their own prophecies. They were not hearing from God. God promised them sorrow because they were following their own imaginations and had received nothing from God. They were making it all up to gain a following of people. The Lord was against the false prophets who were prophesying that judgment was not coming. They were saying that the nation was secure and had nothing to worry about. Rebellion was a major part of what was going on. These false prophets gave the rebellious people a false sense of security. They were saying all is peaceful when there was no peace at all.
God told the prophets that they had discouraged the righteous with their lies. He also proclaimed that these leaders had set up idols in their hearts. They embraced things that would make them fall into sin. God promised to respond with the kind of answer their great idolatry deserves.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
Idolatry in the heart. This is a powerful message in these chapters. Some of the influential men were guilty of idolatry in their hearts. Their loyalty to God faded and they allowed other things to take priority in their lives. They rejected God’s purposes and lived a sinful lifestyle.
What happens to people who abuse their leadership positions like that? God will judge and bring punishment on those who claim to believe in Him while they reject what God says about living a holy life. Immorality takes over. These leaders who live in insurrection against God and then expect Him to answer their prayers will some day have a rude awakening. They are hypocrites and enemies of God. They will be destroyed. I must always remember this lesson.
3. How can I help someone?
The short-term fun that one has while sinning will soon turn to ruin, frustration and defeat. The consequences that will come will always be a larger price to pay that was expected. Sinful activities always leave a person disillusioned and looking for answers. The real meaning of life is found in obedience to God and learning to follow His ways. This is eternal fulfillment.
Bible Chapter: Ezekiel 11 & 12
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
This was a hard time for the nation. So many were not listening to God. The people who stayed in Jerusalem after the Babylonian invasion felt protect by God. They thought of themselves as choice people. They refused to believe the prophet’s proclamation that their sins would bring God to destroy them. God told them their city would not be a safe place for them. He promised judgement even to the borders of Israel. They would be reminded and the would know that He IS the Lord.
A critical statement and vital lesson to learn: they refused to obey God’s decrees and ordinances. They copied the standards of the other nations. This speaks to them in the past and to those who, today, claim the name of Jesus. God’s people are continually tempted to conform to the standards of ungodly people. We must learn to firmly resist imitating the customs of wicked people. God has called us to live holy lives.
We also see that they were a rebellious people who refused to believe that God would destroy their city. They believed that God would protect them even though they actively participated in sin.
There was hope for some who would return in the future. They were told that when the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace of their vile images and detestable idols. This is what God always wants from His people.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
A common thread throughout this book is the rebellion of the people. God told the prophet that he lived among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see as they rejected God. They have ears but refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious people. The church world today has lost the concept of the dangers of rebelling against God. Popularity and acceptance seem to be more important. They don’t believe that God will come through with the judgements He has promised. We are close to the time when there will be no more delays. God has spoken and He will do it. I believe we are living in days of judgement. So, it is critical to live according to the Bible.
3. How can I help someone?
I want to help people SEE, HEAR and then DO. See and hear what God’s Word says and then do what it says without seeking compromise and the easy way out.
Bible Chapter: Ezekiel 9:10
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
We see here a picture of coming judgment. After Ezekiel saw how corrupt Jerusalem had become, God called for judgement. One messenger was sent to spare the small minority that had been faithful. The spiritual leaders of Israel openly promoted idolatrous beliefs. Sadly, the people abandoned God and followed them.
God’s glory. God is completely above people and their limitations. His presence is overwhelming. God loves us so much that He reveals Himself to us so that we can worship and follow him.
We see here that the glory of the Lord rose. The focus here is the departure of God’s glory, His presence from the temple and Jerusalem because of the sin of the nation. God’s glory left the innermost sanctuary of the temple, then it went through the temple. The glory then passed over the entrance. The cherubim moved with the glory to the east gate and then left the temple area. The glory of God left the temple because of the people’s sin and idolatry. God is holy, pure, perfect and has nothing to do with evil.
God told the man with the writer’s case to put a mark on those who were faithful to God. Their faithfulness was determined by their sorrow over the people’s sin. Those with the mark were spared when the destruction of the wicked people came.
The people made excuses and said the Lord wouldn’t see their sin. The deception that “It doesn’t matter” destroyed them. Never make excuses to sin.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
We who call ourselves believers must passionately desire God’s glory and His presence. We must also have a strong hatred for sin and immorality. Any other attitude will lead to spiritual compromise and God’s judgment. I believe that the strong presence of God, the glory of God, is what the world is longing for. I believe that most people who call themselves Christians have not fully experienced the glory of God. If they did they would want more of HIM and not be satisfied with the entertainment called church in so many places.
3. How can I help someone?
Call on God for His powerful presence. You will discover that nothing else that anyone can offer even comes close.
Bible Chapter: Ezekiel 7 & 8
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
We find here a very direct and scary passage. These chapters tell us exactly what God promised and why. It was because of sin, and sin after sin, that God’s people committed that He promised judgement. When people sin, there will be consequences. Many sin and think they are getting away with it. They don’t see God doing anything. They are deceived to think that because they appear to get away with sin that nothing will happen. That is not so. God told the prophet to tell the people the end is here. Your land is finished. God promised to unleash His anger against them. He promised to repay them for all their detestable sins. Then the world will know that He is the Lord. Final doom is waiting!
What people need to understand is that God will call them to account for all their detestable sins. This is no laughing matter. The issue is not that the rich people have not done enough for the poor. All the wealth won’t mean anything. What God has said applies to everyone. People will give up on their money and gold, tossing it out like worthless trash. Their silver and gold won’t mean anything of save them. It will neither satisfy nor feed them, for their greed will only trip them up. Money isn’t the issue, wickedness and pride are the issue. All their wealth and prestige will be swept away.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
Look at these thoughts, important to apply to life. This is especially in our modern world. It is common to see lives twisted by sin. Here the prophet says they won’t recover. They will be judged and pay the price. People don’t realize that God’s fury is against them all.
Another issue is the pride of wealth. People are proud of their beautiful jewelry, beautiful homes, lavish wealth, etc. But God is not impressed. Putting trust in material wealth will only fail. What God requires is repentance. I must never get caught up in the desire for things. They will all pass away.
3. How can I help someone?
Look at 7:25, New Living Translation
Terror and trembling will overcome my people. They will look for peace but not find it.
This is God’s powerful warning to people. Listen, pay attention. Repent and turn to God.
Bible Chapter: Ezekiel 5 & 6
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
The more I read the prophets, the more I see the truths of the Bible. God is consistent and truth is unchanging. When people who know better obey, they receive the presence and blessings of God. When they decide to do whatever they want (actively participate in sin), they bring on God’s judgement. We see this in these chapters. God was angry with Jerusalem because the people had defiled the temple through idol worship. They had been warned, but they did it anyway. As a result, God said He would cut them off completely. He would show no pity because they had defiled His Temple with their vile images and detestable sins.
We must never view God as unwilling to punish those who defile His work and Word. He will judge those who reject His commands. God keeps his Word, and He will judge sinners. The result was war, famine and disease. The pagan shrines and altars were demolished, and the places of worship destroyed.
Then when they were in exile among the nations, they remembered the Lord. They recognized how hurt God was by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that longed for their idols. God was really saddened and hurt by the people’s spiritual adultery.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
One part of this passage really jumped out to me. The prophet gave God’s message that people will know that He alone is the Lord and that He is serious when He says that He will bring calamity on them for their sin. Throughout history we have seen this happen over and over. Yet, people seem to not learn and keep repeating the sins of the past while rejecting God’s eternal truth. I must be alert to not fall into these traps.
3. How can I help someone?
The more I know the Bible, live it and share it, the more I can help people see the truth. There is much fear and confusion spreading throughout society. The only real hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation He bought and paid for on the cross.
Bible Chapter: Ezekiel 3 & 4
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
God gave the prophet, Ezekiel, a daunting task. He was to speak to a nation that was not willing to listen. They would not believe the prophetic message of judgment because their hearts were hardened against the truth. God knew they would reject the bad news. God empowered Ezekiel to face their rejection. God’s preparation for Ezekiel was to let all God’s words sink deep into his own heart first. Then he was to go to the people and say to them what the Lord said.
Ezekiel had a critical position: a watchman for Israel. God challenged him to warn people immediately with the message he received.
Part of the preparation for telling the message was to make bread. It would be plain and minimal food. This showed how scarce food and water would be during the Babylonian siege. They were facing famine and hunger. These things were coming because the nation had defiled so many things and broken so many of God’s laws. How bad would it be? Food will be very scarce. It will be weighed out with great care. The water will be rationed out drop by drop.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
Ezekiel was called as a prophet. Not all believers are called to be prophets, but all are called to tell, to warn unbelievers about the impact of sin. I believe that one of the enemy’s tricks today is to get Christians to hold back on telling the truth. Millions of unbelievers resist the message of the truth and not many people are trying to tell them. God told Ezekiel that he was responsible to tell the truth about righteousness and sin. That is just as true today. People must hear the salvation that Jesus paid for on the cross.
3. How can I help someone?
Pray: Lord, open the eyes of the spiritually blind so that they can see YOU, that they can see eternal truth that will bring them to you and their eternal home in heaven.
Bible Chapter: Ezekiel 1-2
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
The book of Ezekiel is connected to the early years of the Jewish exile in Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar took Jewish captives to Babylon in three stages. Ezekiel was a part of the second stage in 597 B.C. God called Ezekiel to be a prophet while he was in exile. His intent was to make known God’s message to those in Babylon while Jeremiah was prophesying in Jerusalem.
Ezekiel was to tell the exiles the reason for their captivity. He was to foretell Jerusalem’s destruction. God’s purpose was to turn the exiled people back to Himself. The prophecy would inspire hope by declaring God’s promise of restoration.
God gave Ezekiel an amazing and awesome vision of His radiant glory and holiness. It is impossible in human terms to fully describe God. He wrote that all around the Lord was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds after a storm. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like. Ezekiel said that he fell face down on the ground. The glory of the Lord is awesome.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
I think about the powerful purpose and message of this young man called to be a prophet for the Lord. It was a challenging responsibility. God has called all of us who believe in Jesus as Lord, not to be a prophet like Ezekiel, but to live without fear and proclaim the truths of God’s Word. These following thoughts from Ezekiel give a potent challenge.
I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me. They are stubborn and hard-hearted. I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says!’ And whether they listen or refuse to listen, at least they will know they have a prophet among them. Do not fear them or their words, even though their threats surround you. You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious! Do not join them in their rebellion.
3. How can I help someone?
Listen to God’s statements to those who have been rebellious. Rebellion is one of the most destructive things that any person can do, especially to rebel against God. Don’t rebel, submit to God and receive the blessings that brings.
