Tues.’s Devo - Jesus, Our Champion

Read: Ezekiel 29:1-30:26; Hebrews 11:32-12:13; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 27:17 In the tenth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity God sent Ezekiel a message against the Pharaoh of Egypt. God likened him to a great sea monster that lurked in the streams of the Nile. God would put hooks in his jaws and drag him out on the land with fish sticking to his scales. He and all his fishes would be left in the wilderness to die, unburied. They would be food for the wild animals because when Israel trusted in her, she failed them. *** The land of Egypt would become a barren wasteland for forty years. The Egyptians would be scattered to distant lands. At the end of the forty years, God would bring its people back and restore its prosperity, but Egypt will remain a minor kingdom. It will never be great enough to rise against its neighbors. Israel would never put their hope in it again. *** God had used Nebuchadnezzar and his army of Babylon to defeat Tyre yet they hadn’t gotten any plunder from her. All of her wealth went into the sea. So, God would pay her with Egypt’s wealth. *** God would restore the wealth of Israel and then the people of Israel would respect Ezekiel and see that he heard from the Lord. *** In Hebrews, the writer lists others that had great faith that turned their weaknesses to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Then he told of others that were tortured because they refused to turn from God in order to be set free. They believed in a life in the resurrection which would be better. They endured tremendous pain and suffering which made them great in God’s eyes. They never received all God had promised them but their mantle was passed on to the nest generation. *** These people are in our crowd of witnesses. So let us strip off everything that keeps us from continuing their race and keep our eyes on Jesus, our Champion. He is the one who perfects our faith. He endured the pain of the cross because of the joy he knew awaited him. He was our example to follow. *** He reminded them of Proverbs 3:11-12 where God speaks to us as his children and tells us not to give up when we are disciplined because God disciplines those he loves. We should rejoice that he is our Father because fathers discipline and punish the children because they love them. *** God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. It is not enjoyable at the time but it reaps a harvest of right living which brings peace. So, set a goal and get back up. God will strengthen you. *** Lord, thank you for your encouragement to continue the walk of faith. May we be strengthened by your Holy Spirit.