Thurs.’s Devo - God’s Amazing Grace

Read: Ezekiel 14:12-16:41; Hebrews 7:18-28; Psalm 106:1-12; Proverbs 27:4-6 God gave Ezekiel several scenarios of decisions he would do to punish a nation because of their sin. He would cut off their food supply, send wild animals to devour them, send enemy armies against them, or send an epidemic into their land. Even the most righteous men like Noah, Daniel and Job could not stop his hand. They might be saved, but they would not be able to save anyone else. *** Then God compared the wood of a grapevine to the wood of a tree. Grapevines are useless for anything but burning very quickly. Wood from trees can be made into furniture, houses, etc., and burns slowly. He compared Judah to grapevines - useless for anything but the fire. *** Then God told the story of how he found them as a baby and nourished them into mature adults. God blessed them and they became rich and powerful, only to throw it away on prostitution and wickedness. Their “friends” from Egypt, Assyria and Philistia would destroy them and rob them of their treasures. They will destroy all their idols and leave them naked. Thus, God will stop their prostitution. *** Hebrews tells us again that the law never made anyone perfect. He calls it weak and useless. We now have a better covenant and a new system. Jesus is the one who guarantees this new covenant. Jesus is not like the priests of the old covenant who died - Jesus lives forever. And, he lives to intercede for us! He is holy and blameless. He does not need to make atonement for himself and the people everyday like they did under the old system. He is the perfect High Priest forever. *** Lord, thank you for being our faithful and perfect High Priest, Thank you for your many prayers for us. Thank you that you pour out your grace on us and equip us to do your work. May your name be magnified in the earth, today.