Fri.’s Devo -Dividing the Land

Read: Ezekiel 47:1-48:35; 1 Peter 2:11-3:7; Psalm 119:49-64; Proverbs 28:12-13 Ezekiel was showed a river that led from the Temple on the east and southern borders. It got deeper and deeper and flowed to the Dead Sea bringing it life. Everywhere the river flowed, life was brought to the land. *** Once again, God divided up the land of Israel and gave each tribe a strip of land the same size. The order from north to south was Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben and Judah, then the area for the Levites and the Temple. Under it was land for Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun and Gad. Joseph was given two strips of land (Manasseh and Ephraim). *** The Temple was in the middle, with land beside it for the priests, the Levites and the Prince. Around the city were gates for each of the tribes to enter through to come to the Temple, Ephraim and Manasseh went through the gate of Joseph. *** Peter tells us that our worldly desires wage war against our very souls. If we live honorable lives, it will be a testimony to our unbelieving neighbors. *** For God’s sake, we are to submit to human authority. Our godly living will silence their lies about us. We have free will but we have chosen to become slaves to Christ so we should honor our king. *** We should honor and respect those we work for and work like we are working for the Lord, because we are. *** If those in authority over us are curial and we endure patiently it pleases God. Christ suffered in the same way and we are called to fellowship in his suffering. Christ didn’t retaliate when he was being treated unfairly. *** Peter tells the wives that they must be willing to suffer the same way if they had unbelieving husbands. Their kindness will speak to them and win them over. *** Beauty to the Lord is a gentle and quiet spirit. *** To the husbands, Peter tells them to honor their wives and treat them with understanding as an equal partner in God’s family. Then their prayers will not be hindered. *** Lord, help us to live our lives to honor your name.