Thurs.’s Devo. - The Simplicity of the Gospel

Read: Eze. 40:28-41:26; James 4:1-17; Ps. 118:19-29; Pr. 28:3-5 In reading the description of the new temple that Ezekiel saw there is no mention of the ark of the covenant that represents God’s glory and presence. That is because God’s glory and presence is no longer contained in a room. When Jesus died, the veil was torn allowing all to come in and God’s presence to go out. James asks a viable question: what is the source of our quarrels? They come from the lusts in our hearts. To be a friend of the world and a friend of God is adultery. You can’t love the world and love God because they are in direct conflict of one another. Pride is of the devil but humility is from God. A humble person doesn’t slander his brother, or judge him. He doesn’t judge others or the Word; only God can do either of those. He is the one who knows the future so the only wise thing to do is ask Him to guide us through it. So, to make it simple: just do what is good in God’s eyes. Lord, what You ask of us is very simple and we make it so hard. All we have to do is trust You, follow You and do good to others. This is the day that You have made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Wed.’s Devo - The New Temple

Read: Eze. 38:1-40:27; James 2:18-3:18; Ps. 118:1-18; Pr. 28:2 Ezekiel is describing the reign of Antiochus who was a godless anti-christ before the first coming of Christ. He is a picture of the Antichrist that will come to power before Christ’s second coming. Antiochus left Egypt for an expedition against Palestine, and so shall the last great enemy of God be from the north parts. God will cleansing the land from sin and bring Israel to know that Jesus is the Messiah. Chapter 40 begins the description of the new temple. It is so different than any other temple of God and the dimensions won’t even fit on the topography of Israel so I have to believe this is the description of the new Jerusalem that Revelations talks about. God promises to bring a new heaven and a new earth so this temple must be for the new earth. James explains that our faith should become evident by the things we do. Our conversation should reflect what is in our heart. If we fill our hearts with God’s Word and love then our conversation will follow. Lord, truly Your love endures forever.

Mon.’s Devo - The Tribulation

Read: Daniel 8:1-27; 1 John 2:1-17; Ps. 120:1-7; Pr. 28:25-26 Daniel saw this vision while staying at the palace at Shushan, the very palace that Esther became queen. He sees a vision of what will happen in the end days. Even though he was to see the interpretation partially fulfilled in his lifetime, it was a picture of what will happen in the very end during the Tribulation. The antichrist will arise with occultist powers that mimic the miracles of Jesus. His influence that God gives him will seduce and deceive many. He will defy Christ but Christ will win. The Bible teaches us not to sin where we teach everyone has to sin. I’m going with the Bible. Jesus told the woman at the well to go and sin no more as if it was possible. John thinks it’s possible too. But if we do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. Everyone sins before Christ, but after Christ we should be obeying God’s commands. Jesus only gave us two: Love the Lord with all our heart and love one another as we love ourselves. We get caught up in the nit-picky things that the devil loves to accuse us of. Let’s just choose to walk in the light. Lord, shine your light on our hearts and enlarge our hearts to love you more.

Tues.’s Devo - The Valley of Dry Bones

Read: Eze. 37:1-38:23; James 1:19-2:17; PS. 117:1-2; Pr. 28:1 We all know this story from our childhood - the valley of dry bones. It is a picture of what God is going to do with the children of Israel in the last days and how He will bring them together, breathe his spirit in them and raise them up as a mighty army. It is also a picture of what he will do with the church in the last day and what will happen at the very last day when God brings to life every believer who has ever been to fight in the battle of Armageddon. And it is also a picture of what God does every time he saves a person. He causes their dry bones to come together, breathes his eternal life in them and raises them up to fight the good fight of faith in the earth. Chapter 38 is a picture of when the Maccabees with Antiochus came down from the north and attacked Israel, but more importantly of what will happen in the end when God will wage war on his enemies at Aramageddon. One of the verses in James that I repeat to myself often is verse 20, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” Every time I am tempted to get mad I remind my self that my wrath is not representing God’s righteousness. It helps! I love the way verse 25 is worded. It describes the Word as the perfect law of liberty. We are tempted to see God’s Word as a book of laws that confine us when they are really suppose to be words that free us when we do what it says. Chapter 2 reminds us to honor all people the same no matter what their economic state is. Jesus chose to be poor on this earth and he is the most honored of all. Lord, help us to take courage in this world knowing that You have overcome and to honor all men as You do.

Mon.’s Devo - The Perfect Law of Liberty

Read: Eze. 35:1-36:38; James 1:1-18; Ps. 116:1-19; Pr. 27:23-27 God pronounces judgment on Israel’s greatest enemies. Those that laughed and were glad when Israel fell will be punished with a greater judgment than Israel’s. In the end, God will bring Israel back into her land and cleanse them from the inside out. They will have a new heart to love God and a new spirit. Then God will prosper their land once again. He will remove their poverty and famine and bless them with abundance. The whole earth will see what God has done for his people. I pray this for America as well. I love James! I need to read James weekly because I need to remind myself that trials are my friend. Trials are our tests to promote us to the next level. They are not punishments from God. God is so willing and ready to give us wisdom when we ask in faith. We have to keep our eyes on Jesus and set our rudder in Him or we will weave back and forth between doubt and belief. We have to settle it in our mind that God is for us and working for His best interest for us and our family. Lord, help us to walk in your word, to be thankful in our trials and have faith.

Sun.’s Devo. - The Responsibility of the Watchman

Read: Eze. 33:1-34:31; Heb. 13:1-25; Ps. 115:1-18; Pr. 27:21-22 Another name for a prophet is a watchman. If God shows him what is coming and he doesn’t warn the people then their blood will be on his head. But, if he warns them, it is up to the people to respond rightly and the prophet is free of his responsibility. The only correct response to a warning is to repent and turn to God. When they found out that Jerusalem was completely taken over, God asked them if they thought they could commit all their abominations and still be saved. In Chapter 34, God rebuked the shepherds for not keeping good watch over their flocks. It is the leader’s responsibility to teach the people not to sin, but they had joined in their abominations so they were held accountable. God promised to send the Great Shepherd and He will bring the flock back into the fold. He will take care of Israel; feed them, lead them, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick. Evil will be driven from the land and they will be blessed and become a blessing. Hebrews 13 gives us a hodge podge of nuggets to pay attention to. It encourages us to love our fellow brothers and sisters. Be kind to strangers because they could be angels in disguise. Don’t forget the ones that are being persecuted for the kingdom. Honor your marriage. Be content with the things God has blessed you with. Pray for our leaders. Let the Word of God be your doctrine. May the God of peace make us perfect in every good work to do his will.

Sat.’s Devo.- Satan’s End, Our Glory

Read: Eze. 31:1-32:32; Heb. 12:14-29; Ps. 113:1-114:8; Pr. 27:18-20 Ezekiel keeps us up with where Israel is in its 70 year exile. Today they are in the eleventh year, third month, first day. God declares judgment on proud Egypt. Egypt had been exalted above all the earth, like the devil and is now brought low. He even compares his glory to something the trees in the garden of Eden would envy. He is describing Satan before the fall. But, because Satan tried to exalt himself to be higher than God, he was thrown from heaven to earth. Egypt will be brought low the same way. Satan embodied the serpent but he also embodied the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Once Adam ate of his fruit, death entered his body. To eat of the fruit of the tree of life brought eternal life. In Chapter 32, God describes in a parable how he left Satan on the earth to vex people’s hearts and bring destruction upon the ungodly. Starting at verse 17, God describes the fate of the followers of Satan. They all go down to hell…the pit in shame because they brought fear on earth. In comparison, in Hebrews we have a picture of heaven. It is the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, where there is a innumerable company of angels. There the Judge of all will judge every man and Satan and his angels. God’s kingdom cannot be moved or shaken. In it we will worship God in spirit and in truth. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.