Mon.’s Devo - God’s Temple

Read: Ezekiel 40:28-41:26; James 4:1-17;Psalm 118:19-29; Provers 28:3-5 I don’t understand all the details of all God told Ezekiel to measure in this Temple but there was a reason God wanted Ezekiel to see this and measure it. The square where the temple sat was six times as large as the whole area within the wall of the old temple, and it was larger than all known Jerusalem. Its area was three and a half miles plus forty yards. The whole city of Jerusalem today is about two and a half miles. The city that Ezekiel measures is three or four thousand square miles including the ground set apart for the prince, priest, and Levites. This is nearly as large as the whole Judea west of the Jordan (the land being contested right now in the news.) *** To me, it is like God put his temple in heaven right on earth to show Ezekiel how massive it would one day be. Isn’t that what Jesus prayed, that God would bring heaven down to earth? *** James gives us some practical ways to live together in peace. He first deals with our evil desires, which if not addressed will cause us to quarrel among ourselves, envy others and be jealous. He says that our motives are wrong if we only want what gives us pleasure. Friendship with the world makes us enemies of God. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. *** So we should humble ourselves and resist the devil. As we draw near to God, he draws near to us. If our hearts are pure then our loyalty will not be divided between God and the world. *** We are not to speak evil against one another but to let God be the judge. He is the one guiding our lives. *** James ends with “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” *** Lord, lead us into all truth and show us how to live in your Kingdom and how that our bodies house your Temple. May our lives bring glory to your name.