Fri.’s Devo - Running the Race

Read: Eze. 29:1-30:26; Heb. 11:32-12:13; Ps. 112:1-10; Pr. 27:17 Ezekiel prophesies the scattering of Egypt though he promises to bring them back one day. But Egypt will not be the strong powerhouse it once was but one of the weakest, basest of nations. History has proven this true. Psalms 112 would be a great chapter to memorize. Those who obey God’s word will be great upon the earth and his seed be blessed. He will be blessed with wealth because he is compassionate, gracious and lends. This man will not be moved but shall be remembered for his life. He trusts in the Lord even when the news is bad. His righteousness will endure forever. Hebrew mentions four judges, a prophet and a king who lived by faith. None of these men were perfect but they had faith. They endured much hardships on this earth looking forward to a much better place after death. They have become our crowd of witnesses that cheer us on in the faith. They are watching and waiting to see the promises they lived for and endured hardship for be fulfilled in us. That should make us want to do whatever it takes to fulfill the destiny God has put in our hearts to do. The writer encourages us to allow God to do his perfect work of sanctifying us through trials and God’s correction. If we do, we will yield God’s fruit of righteousness. Lord, we want to bear much fruit so help us to fight the good fight and run the race you have set before us with grace.

Thurs.’s Devo - By Faith

Read: Eze. 27:1-28:26; Heb. 11:17-31; Ps. 111:1-10; Pr. 27:15-16; Ezekiel got a word from God for Tyrus. Tyrus means “a rock” and was a trading port by the sea. It had enjoyed the beautiful exports of many nations and was a prosperous place with the best of the best merchandise from slaves to wares. It was well fortified with the best of warriors. But in all its finery, it was destined to fall. Tyrus became proud and arrogant and thought themselves like God so God was going to send evil nations against them to war against them. In the end, God always promises good; He will bring His people back into their land where they will dwell in peace and prosperity. In Hebrews we continue our “Hall of Faith” leaders. Isaac was the next type of Jesus as our lamb that was slain for the sins of the world. Isaac’s role-playing sacrifice was a picture of Jesus’ real sacrifice. God called his seed righteous as all who believe in Jesus are righteous. His blessing of salvation continued to Jacob and Joseph. Joseph spoke of the promised land which we know today is a type of heaven. Moses was a type of “Jesus our deliverer.” He chose to be one of the Hebrews instead of counted as a king in Pharaoh’s court just as Jesus took on him the seed of Abraham. (Heb. 2:16) Moses understood that the true reward was not on this earth. Last but not least Hebrews mentions Rahab, the harlot. She is a picture of the Gentile church. She heard of the power of the god of the Hebrews and believed in him for herself and her household. She was the first convert of the heathen of the promised land. She is our hope. She was saved by faith and so are we. Lord, thank you for those who went before us to be our examples of your goodness and your validity.

Wed.’s Devo - The Hall of Faith

Read: Eze. 24:1-25:17; Heb. 11: 1-16; Ps. 110:1-7; Pr. 27:14 It had been nine years to the day that Babylon took over Jerusalem when God spoke this word to Ezekiel. So for nine years God had tried to purge Israel of her sin but she refused to repent and turn to God. Because their hearts were so hard, God was going to judge them harshly. God told Ezekiel that He was going to take from him what he loved and he forbade Ezekiel to mourn or cry but to dress like any other day. I wonder if Ezekiel knew that God was going to take his wife the next day? When the people asked him what his strange behavior was about he was able to give them God’s word. They would experience the same thing. Everything they loved would be taken from them and they would not have time to mourn. God rebuked the Ammonites for being happy over Israel’s misfortune. The Ammonites were the descendent of Lot. They lived outside of the border of Israel and their relationship with Israel was not friendly most of the time. Because they rejoiced when Israel was being judged, they would experience God’s wrath also. We need a week alone on Hebrews 11… otherwise known as the “Hall of Faith. Abel was a type of Jesus, who offered the perfect sacrifice that still speaks today. Enoch was a picture of the resurrected Jesus and the raptured church. Noah is a picture of Jesus who saves us from the storm and judgment on earth. It is a picture of the church that is left after the rapture to go through tribulation. It is also a picture of end-time judgment on the earth. Abraham is the father of God’s children… a picture of God. His job was to walk out the promised land and start a new family of God. He is a picture of the new kingdom that will come after the earth is destroyed. Sarah is a picture of the risen church that will begin a new generation on the new earth. They were seeing a heavenly country even as they lived here on earth. They never saw it in their earthly bodies but they will see it one day. Lord, prepare us for your heavenly kingdom.

Tues.’s Devo -God’s Judgment

Read: Eze. 23:1-49; Heb. 10:18-39; Ps. 109:1-31; Pr. 27:13 Ezekiel prophesied against Samaria and Jerusalem calling them Aholah and Aholibah. Samaria was Israel’s capital and Jerusalem was Judah’s capital. They were guilty of lusting after the military of Egypt and Assyria. God was supposed to be their defender but he doesn’t wear handsome uniforms and ride on horses. They not only lusted after their military but the gods they served, the way they dressed and their customs. They forgot God’s ways. They used the holy oil and incense that was supposed to be used to worship God to worship their idols. To punish them, God was going to send a company of people against them who would kill them and burn their houses with fire. They would rid the land of its sin. In Hebrews we read that we are to provoke one another to love and good deeds which is why we need to meet often with believers and encourage one another. If we choose to live a lifestyle of sin after receiving grace we will be judged for our disobedience. Only those who do the will of God receive the promise. Lord, give us grace to understand You ways and please You with our lives.

Mon.’s Devo - Standing in the Gap

Read: Eze. 21:1-22:31; Heb. 10:1-17; Ps. 108:1-13; Pr. 27:12 God’s fury was prophesied against Jerusalem. He used Babylon to bring his wrath through. Nebuchadnezzar came down to conquer and came to a fork in the road. One fork led to the land of the Ammonites and the other to Judah. He used his divination and it led him to go to Jerusalem. God promises to come back and judge the Ammonites later. God called Judah to repentance for their sexual perversion, bribery and murdering. The priests violated the law, profaned the holy, made the clean unclean and didn’t keep the sabbaths. They took bribes and killed innocent people for money. There was no righteous person found to stand in the gap for the nation and intercede for their sins. The priests of the Old Testament had to daily and yearly offer up sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people and the priests. In the New Testament Jesus died once for our sins and that was it. There is no more sacrifice to be made. Now Jesus sits waiting for all his enemies to be put under his feet. Lord, may we stand in the gap between Your judgment and Your blessing for our nation and pray that she return to you. Wake up your church to pray.

Sun.’s Devo - The Plan of Salvation

Read: Eze. 20:1-49; Heb. 9:11-29; Ps. 107:1-43; Pr. 27:11 God reminded Israel of their history of rebellion. They were a nation bent on doing their own thing and following the gods of the nations that were their enemies instead of following their own God who was the only one who could deliver and save them. It seems like a no-brainer to us when we read about Israel, but we live in that same state where people worship people and things and other religions that are opposed to the one true God. In Psalms we read that when God would punish them for their sin they would cry out to the Lord and he would save them out of their distresses. God would send his word, and heal them. “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Christ as our High Priest doesn’t enter into the man-made Holy of Holies which is a type of the throne room of heaven. But Christ enters into the very presence of God with our prayers and prayers for us. One day, we will all stand before God and watch the judgment of the wicked. We will be saved from judgment because of Jesus’ blood. Lord, thank you for your great plan to save those who want to be saved. We deserve death, but You brought us life through Jesus. We are eternally grateful.

Sat.’s Devo - We May Enter In

Read: Eze. 18:1-19:14; Heb. 9:1-10; Ps. 106:32-48; Pr. 27:10 The children of Israel were blaming their fathers for the mess they were in but God sent Ezekiel to set them straight. God judges everyone fairly according to their heart, not the heart of their fathers. If they had the worse parents in the world they can’t blame them for their own decisions; they have to make their own path. Israel is judged as a nation according to the decisions of their leaders, but they are also judged individually which is the most important. The same is true of us in America. That is why we walk out our salvation in the fear of the Lord and we pray for our nations and vote for godly men to be put in office. Hebrews explains that the first tabernacle had three parts: the outer court, the inner court and the Holy of Holies. The people were invited into the outer court where there was the brazen altar and the laver which was a huge bowl filled with water. The sacrifices were made on the brazen altar to atone for the sins of the priests and the people. The laver was where the priest washed himself to represent the cleansing power of the sacrifice. In the inner court stood the candlestick, the table of incense and the table of shewbread. Only the priests could go there. It represents the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the prayers of the saints and the Word of God that we eat daily. The third part was the Holy Place where only the High Priest could go once a year on the Day of Atonement. In that room behind the veil was the ark of the covenant, the manna, and Aaron’s rod. On the top of the ark sat the angels. Now that Jesus has come and died, we are invited as priests of God into all of those rooms. The blood of Jesus covers us so that we can come in. When Jesus died the veil was torn from heaven to earth inviting us all in. It is our decision to enter; we are always welcome. Lord, help us to set aside time daily to enter into your throne room and enjoy the beauty of Your presence.