Yesterday I read Ezekiel 7-8. I was really struck by how it says I will judge them according to their conduct. four times. You know, now days we are told that what we do doesn't matter. Since we have grace actions don't matter. but that doesn't line up with Scripture. Our actions do matter. They are not the only thing that matters, but God will judge us in part based on our conduct. I wonder what God thinks when we say we love Him and then do nothing to adjust our conduct to honor Him. It is a lot like someone who says they love you and then goes out and cheats on you. Love is proven by what we do as a response to it.
In the commentary I am reading as I go through Ezekiel there were a few neat comments as well. The author, Smith, says, "This judgment would correct their faulty notions about the nature of God (7:1-4)." That is an interesting way of looking at this tough time in Scripture. God used severe punishment and trials to save a greater number of people. And then he quotes a man named Andrew Blackwood as saying, "the death of material property turned out to be the resurrection of faith." That is true. When we lose everything we go back to God. Why not go back to God now? The truth is sometimes it takes great loss before we see true value.
Today I read Ezekiel 9-11. Here are a few verses for you.
9:4 - Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it. - I wonder how many of us are grieved and lament over the detestable things done in our community. Do we cry out to God to change the rate of divorce or the hurt or the senseless death? Do we beg God to intervene and change people's hearts so they are no longer alone and isolated? god, that I might grieve and lament over my city in a way that honors you.
11:12 - ... but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you. - I am amazed at this constant warning in the Bible and how much we simply ignore it. When we as followers of Christ conform to the standards and patterns of the people around us we dishonor God and ruin our faithfulness. We cannot live like those around us. they do not live as God intends. No matter how we wrap it up, we have to live with a different standard and not just inside. The standard you live by is seen on the outside. Why are we so afraid of being different? One day our difference is what will save us and yet we shun it today. What silly Christians we are. We turn our backs on what will save us.
11:19 - I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. - Beautiful verse. God has the power to remove our hearts of stone.
Love, Michael
No comments:
Post a Comment