Read: Ezekiel 29:1-30:26; Hebrews 11:32-12:13; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 27:17
As Ezekiel brings a prophecy against Egypt, he compares it to a crocodile and its people fish. The greater sin is that Egypt has been prideful and the lesser is that she is unreliable.
His second oracle (17-21) against Egypt came after the fall of Tyre. The siege of Tyre had lasted 13 years but it was economically unfruitful because the wealth had been shipped to an offshore island. So the booty that was deprived of Babylon in that siege would be made up by what they would take from Egypt. It was not just the capital of Egypt but the whole of Egypt that would be spoiled. God was going to strengthen Babylon to use as his tool to judge the earth.
Hebrews continues with a list of men and women who persevered for the faith. Many were made martyrs and they never saw the promise given them fulfilled. They are made complete through seeing that promise fulfilled in our lives. They became the crowd of witnesses that are waiting for us to complete the promise they only saw. I believe that all that have gone before us are in that company, which means our family is watching us fulfill the destiny for our family line.
God judges the world, but he disciplines his children in love. Hebrews teaches us to appreciate God’s discipline for it is for our good. Having our grandchildren living with us, I can attest to that. It is so much easier for me to discipline them out of love and not anger because my only goal is to make godly children out of them. I am not as easily embarrassed of them as I was my own children and I don’t take it personal when they mess up. It is just black and white…I want them to succeed in life. That is exactly how God feels about us. He wants us to succeed in life so he disciplines us so he can bless us.
Lord, thank you for your discipline. Help us to be first time listeners and obey what you say.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Monday, November 13, 2017
Mon.’s Devo - God’s Story
Read: Ezekiel 27:1-28:26; Hebrews 11:17-31; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 27:15-16
Tyre was known for its glass-shops, purple dyeing and weaving establishments and for the engraving of precious stones. It was also known for its wickedness and idolatry which were frequently denounced by the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos and Zechariah. Ezekiel gave a list of all the people who traded with Tyre so great was her wealth. She traded with the whole world, but her wealth could not buy her out of God’s judgment. God compares her to Lucifer in the garden. Just as God bedecked Lucifer with jewels, he had prospered Tyre. They were both the model of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty till wickedness was found in them. So God had to drive them both from his presence because of their pride and corruption. Their sin and dishonesty brought them to ashes and a horrible end. When their time of judgment is over, the people that come back will know the Lord. Interestingly Tyre became the place where a church was founded after Stephen’s death. Paul visited it during his third missionary journey.
We continue in Hebrews down Israel’s history. God lists the patriarchs as he encodes his purpose. Abraham offered Isaac as God offered Jesus to be the atonement for all mankind. Jacob was the righteous offspring of salvation and he started the nation of Israel through his offspring. He blessed his sons just as Jesus blessed his twelve disciples before he left the earth. Joseph was one of Jacob’s sons who spoke of the exodus of Israel out of bondage and into the promised land. He was a type of John who taught us freedom from our sins and who gave us the Revelation of the end. Moses, though raised in the wealthy palace of Egypt, refused to be known as an Egyptian but gave it all up to suffer with God’s people to teach them about the power of the blood. Moses was a type of Paul who gave up his high position with the Pharisees to be known as a Christian. He gave his life to one of suffering that the power of Jesus’ blood might be proclaimed and proved on the earth. Just as the walls of Jericho fell in Joshua, the walls of religion fell in Paul’s ministry and the Rahab’s , the Gentiles and sinners, were welcomed into salvation.
Lord, your story is written over and over in your Word and like the Psalmist we can say, “Great are Your works, they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are your deeds, and your righteousness endures forever.”
Tyre was known for its glass-shops, purple dyeing and weaving establishments and for the engraving of precious stones. It was also known for its wickedness and idolatry which were frequently denounced by the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos and Zechariah. Ezekiel gave a list of all the people who traded with Tyre so great was her wealth. She traded with the whole world, but her wealth could not buy her out of God’s judgment. God compares her to Lucifer in the garden. Just as God bedecked Lucifer with jewels, he had prospered Tyre. They were both the model of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty till wickedness was found in them. So God had to drive them both from his presence because of their pride and corruption. Their sin and dishonesty brought them to ashes and a horrible end. When their time of judgment is over, the people that come back will know the Lord. Interestingly Tyre became the place where a church was founded after Stephen’s death. Paul visited it during his third missionary journey.
We continue in Hebrews down Israel’s history. God lists the patriarchs as he encodes his purpose. Abraham offered Isaac as God offered Jesus to be the atonement for all mankind. Jacob was the righteous offspring of salvation and he started the nation of Israel through his offspring. He blessed his sons just as Jesus blessed his twelve disciples before he left the earth. Joseph was one of Jacob’s sons who spoke of the exodus of Israel out of bondage and into the promised land. He was a type of John who taught us freedom from our sins and who gave us the Revelation of the end. Moses, though raised in the wealthy palace of Egypt, refused to be known as an Egyptian but gave it all up to suffer with God’s people to teach them about the power of the blood. Moses was a type of Paul who gave up his high position with the Pharisees to be known as a Christian. He gave his life to one of suffering that the power of Jesus’ blood might be proclaimed and proved on the earth. Just as the walls of Jericho fell in Joshua, the walls of religion fell in Paul’s ministry and the Rahab’s , the Gentiles and sinners, were welcomed into salvation.
Lord, your story is written over and over in your Word and like the Psalmist we can say, “Great are Your works, they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are your deeds, and your righteousness endures forever.”
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Sun.’s Devo - The Plan
Read: Ezekiel 24:1-26:21; Hebrews 11:1-16; Psalm 110:1-7; Proverbs 27:14
When Ezekiel wrote today’s scripture he was already exiled to Babylon. He had gone in the second siege on Jerusalem and was warning those left of what was coming. He told them that they would not have the luxury of mourning the deaths that were coming. As a picture, God told him that he could not mourn the death that was coming to him. Ezekiel told the people that in the mourning and in the evening Ezekiel’s wife died. He had been instructed by God not to do the customary things you do when a person dies.
Judah was not the only nation that was being judged. Moab and Seir and the Philistines were being judged for the evils they had done toward Judah. Tyre saw how vulnerable Jerusalem was and planned to pillage her, so God sent Nebuchadnezzar against Tyre. Nebuchadnezzar would do to Tyre what Tyre had planned to do to Jerusalem. Tyre would be flattened to the ground never to rise again.
Hebrews 11 is the “Hall of Faith” of the patriarchs. It is the coded history of God’s redemptive plan. He begins with Abel who gave the perfect sacrifice. Abel was a type of Jesus who was the perfect sacrifice. Next is Enoch who is a picture of those who walk with God and will be raptured to heaven. Noah is the picture of the church who goes through the tribulation but rises above the storm because they are hidden in God. Next is Abraham who was the father of a new nation. He is the picture of the new millennium of people who will live on the earth. Family goes on because family is such a part of the heart of God.
Lord help us to major on the majors and minor on the minors.
When Ezekiel wrote today’s scripture he was already exiled to Babylon. He had gone in the second siege on Jerusalem and was warning those left of what was coming. He told them that they would not have the luxury of mourning the deaths that were coming. As a picture, God told him that he could not mourn the death that was coming to him. Ezekiel told the people that in the mourning and in the evening Ezekiel’s wife died. He had been instructed by God not to do the customary things you do when a person dies.
Judah was not the only nation that was being judged. Moab and Seir and the Philistines were being judged for the evils they had done toward Judah. Tyre saw how vulnerable Jerusalem was and planned to pillage her, so God sent Nebuchadnezzar against Tyre. Nebuchadnezzar would do to Tyre what Tyre had planned to do to Jerusalem. Tyre would be flattened to the ground never to rise again.
Hebrews 11 is the “Hall of Faith” of the patriarchs. It is the coded history of God’s redemptive plan. He begins with Abel who gave the perfect sacrifice. Abel was a type of Jesus who was the perfect sacrifice. Next is Enoch who is a picture of those who walk with God and will be raptured to heaven. Noah is the picture of the church who goes through the tribulation but rises above the storm because they are hidden in God. Next is Abraham who was the father of a new nation. He is the picture of the new millennium of people who will live on the earth. Family goes on because family is such a part of the heart of God.
Lord help us to major on the majors and minor on the minors.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Sat.’s Devo - Confidence
Read: Ezekiel 23:1-49; Hebrews 10:18-39; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 27:13
Today, God gives us the picture of two sisters who are both prostitutes. One is named Oholah who stands for Samaria, the capital of Israel and the other is Oholiabah who stands for Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. They were both lovers of Assyria and her finely dressed army. Oholah was the first lover but Oholiabah took it further and added the Babylonians to her list of lovers which provoked God’s anger even more than Israel did. Now, their lovers would turn on them and be their destruction.
Hebrews uses the word “confidence” many times. Today he speaks of the confidence we have because we know that we are sinless. Before, a sacrifice had to be made every year, but it was not powerful enough to remove the guilt and expired after a year. Now, the blood of Jesus has the power to not only remove the sin forever but also the guilt, and open the curtain between the people and God so that we can all boldly approach God with “confidence”. That is an awesome concept to grasp and keep. I have to remind myself of this many times when the devil comes to heap condemnation on me. We are free from sin! That is something to dance about. Praise God!
Lord, help us to remain confident in your Word because You fulfill every word you say.
Today, God gives us the picture of two sisters who are both prostitutes. One is named Oholah who stands for Samaria, the capital of Israel and the other is Oholiabah who stands for Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. They were both lovers of Assyria and her finely dressed army. Oholah was the first lover but Oholiabah took it further and added the Babylonians to her list of lovers which provoked God’s anger even more than Israel did. Now, their lovers would turn on them and be their destruction.
Hebrews uses the word “confidence” many times. Today he speaks of the confidence we have because we know that we are sinless. Before, a sacrifice had to be made every year, but it was not powerful enough to remove the guilt and expired after a year. Now, the blood of Jesus has the power to not only remove the sin forever but also the guilt, and open the curtain between the people and God so that we can all boldly approach God with “confidence”. That is an awesome concept to grasp and keep. I have to remind myself of this many times when the devil comes to heap condemnation on me. We are free from sin! That is something to dance about. Praise God!
Lord, help us to remain confident in your Word because You fulfill every word you say.
Friday, November 10, 2017
Fri.’s Devo - Our Complete Sanctification
Read Ezekiel 21:1-22:31; Hebrews 10:1-17; Psalm 108:1-13; Proverbs 27:12
Ezekiel warns the people that God has drawn his sword from his sheath and it is about to fall on them. Everyone will know and be affected by what is about to happen. The Babylonians and the Ammonites will be coming against them for many reasons which Ezekiel lists. They had murdered each other and they had made idols to worship. The leaders had oppressed the foreigner, the widow and the orphan. They had profaned the things God had called holy and dishonored the sabbath. They had lied to kill others, and committed every sexual perversity they could think of. They had extorted money and killed for it. God was putting them in the fire so all their dross could be burned off and cleansed. Their prophets had behaved like ravening lions preying on souls and making widows of many women. Their priests had no respect for their office, God or the things that were holy. Everyone’s goal was to get ahead no matter who they had to walk on to get there.
God had looked for a man to stand in the gap so that he would not have to destroy it and found none. His mind was made up and judgment was coming.
Hebrews explains that the law could not make the people perfect or complete. The sacrifices of the old covenant only lasted for a year, then they had to do it again. Every year they were reminded of their sins. But we are sanctified through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. His death made us perfect and complete once and for all. God doesn’t remember them again. Now that is the good news!
If Israel would have believed our Proverb for today, they might have saved themselves.
Lord, open our spiritual eyes to discern the days we are living in. Thank you for sanctifying us and making us complete through your sacrifice.
Ezekiel warns the people that God has drawn his sword from his sheath and it is about to fall on them. Everyone will know and be affected by what is about to happen. The Babylonians and the Ammonites will be coming against them for many reasons which Ezekiel lists. They had murdered each other and they had made idols to worship. The leaders had oppressed the foreigner, the widow and the orphan. They had profaned the things God had called holy and dishonored the sabbath. They had lied to kill others, and committed every sexual perversity they could think of. They had extorted money and killed for it. God was putting them in the fire so all their dross could be burned off and cleansed. Their prophets had behaved like ravening lions preying on souls and making widows of many women. Their priests had no respect for their office, God or the things that were holy. Everyone’s goal was to get ahead no matter who they had to walk on to get there.
God had looked for a man to stand in the gap so that he would not have to destroy it and found none. His mind was made up and judgment was coming.
Hebrews explains that the law could not make the people perfect or complete. The sacrifices of the old covenant only lasted for a year, then they had to do it again. Every year they were reminded of their sins. But we are sanctified through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. His death made us perfect and complete once and for all. God doesn’t remember them again. Now that is the good news!
If Israel would have believed our Proverb for today, they might have saved themselves.
Lord, open our spiritual eyes to discern the days we are living in. Thank you for sanctifying us and making us complete through your sacrifice.
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Thurs.’s Devo - God’s Redemptive Plan
Read: Ezekiel 20:1-49; Hebrews 9:11-28; Psalm 107:1-43; Proverbs 27:11
On a certain day, some of the elders came and sat before Ezekiel desiring a word from the Lord. God told them that He would not let them ask him anything because from the beginning they had done nothing but rebel. He took them through the history of Israel and how God delivered them from the bondage they were in because they had cried out to him in their distress. He had done so many things for them but they were bent on disobeying him and worshipping everything but him. So God told them to go and serve their idols because there would come a time when they would repent and turn back to the true and only God.
In Hebrews, Jesus was the final sacrifice for sin. His blood had power to remove the sin and the guilt of that sin. His death brought a new covenant or will that lasts forever.
Reading today’s Psalm I am I am amazed at how many times God took Israel through the story of their history to show his plan for them and how they rejected it. He always reminded them of when they did call out to him and how he came to their rescue. God is always redeeming us.
Lord, thank you for reminding us of your great love for us. You always desire mercy over judgment and redemption over destruction.
On a certain day, some of the elders came and sat before Ezekiel desiring a word from the Lord. God told them that He would not let them ask him anything because from the beginning they had done nothing but rebel. He took them through the history of Israel and how God delivered them from the bondage they were in because they had cried out to him in their distress. He had done so many things for them but they were bent on disobeying him and worshipping everything but him. So God told them to go and serve their idols because there would come a time when they would repent and turn back to the true and only God.
In Hebrews, Jesus was the final sacrifice for sin. His blood had power to remove the sin and the guilt of that sin. His death brought a new covenant or will that lasts forever.
Reading today’s Psalm I am I am amazed at how many times God took Israel through the story of their history to show his plan for them and how they rejected it. He always reminded them of when they did call out to him and how he came to their rescue. God is always redeeming us.
Lord, thank you for reminding us of your great love for us. You always desire mercy over judgment and redemption over destruction.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Wed.’s Devo - The New Covenant
Read: Ezekiel 18: 1-19:14; Hebrews 9:1-10; Psalm 106:32-48; Proverbs 27:10
The people had a proverb that said “the fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?” It meant that what the father did directly effected the child’s outcome. God saw it differently. He said that what the father did would effect his outcome and what the son did would effect his outcome. Everyone was responsible for their own actions. It was the ending that mattered. If a person was wicked and repented then everything they had done in the past would be forgotten and they would be remembered for what they did well.
Ezekiel admonished Israel to get a new heart and a new spirit. Then they would live.
In Chapter 19, Ezekiel took up a lament over the princes of the nation. Judah is the lioness who had cubs. Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim where leaders who both terrorized and enslaved others and now they would be terrorized and enslaved. Judah, a once fruitful vine was about to become fuel for God’s fiery wrath.
Hebrews explains the first covenant and its regulations. It was a visible picture of what the new covenant would be spiritually. The old covenant was natural but the new was spiritual.
Our Psalm tells us how the nation of Israel fell into sin. They didn’t destroy the gods of the enemy like God told them to do but let them slowly creep in to their lifestyle, corrupting their hearts and defiling their souls. This is how sin comes in. When we are saved, we have to allow God to sanctify us or clean us up from our past. If we don’t the same things that tripped us up in the beginning will begin to defile us again.
Lord, help us to desire the true righteousness that comes from obeying your Word and hearing your voice. Help us to stay away from the things that so easily trip us up. Thank you for reminding us that we are not the product of our parents but can choose for ourselves how we will act and what we will become.
The people had a proverb that said “the fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?” It meant that what the father did directly effected the child’s outcome. God saw it differently. He said that what the father did would effect his outcome and what the son did would effect his outcome. Everyone was responsible for their own actions. It was the ending that mattered. If a person was wicked and repented then everything they had done in the past would be forgotten and they would be remembered for what they did well.
Ezekiel admonished Israel to get a new heart and a new spirit. Then they would live.
In Chapter 19, Ezekiel took up a lament over the princes of the nation. Judah is the lioness who had cubs. Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim where leaders who both terrorized and enslaved others and now they would be terrorized and enslaved. Judah, a once fruitful vine was about to become fuel for God’s fiery wrath.
Hebrews explains the first covenant and its regulations. It was a visible picture of what the new covenant would be spiritually. The old covenant was natural but the new was spiritual.
Our Psalm tells us how the nation of Israel fell into sin. They didn’t destroy the gods of the enemy like God told them to do but let them slowly creep in to their lifestyle, corrupting their hearts and defiling their souls. This is how sin comes in. When we are saved, we have to allow God to sanctify us or clean us up from our past. If we don’t the same things that tripped us up in the beginning will begin to defile us again.
Lord, help us to desire the true righteousness that comes from obeying your Word and hearing your voice. Help us to stay away from the things that so easily trip us up. Thank you for reminding us that we are not the product of our parents but can choose for ourselves how we will act and what we will become.
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