261st Week, Ezekiel Chapters 15-19 (Click on title for Video Introduction)

Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, Chapter 15

Ezekiel 15

Verse 5

Tanya Ruden

Verse 5:  Vines are useless both before and after being put into the fire!

THOUGHT

Man, and I thought chapter 12 was hard. I read this chapter in 4 different translations trying to find something to discuss, and the one thing that stuck out to me is the calling of the vine as useless.  I have always believed that everything has a purpose.  God didn’t create anything without a purpose.  Using this branch as an example may be a little out of context.  

I think the branch on the vine has a purpose — to produce fruit.  But unlike wood that can be used for other things, once it is used for fire fuel, the job is done.  It has no other use. That is the “use” they are trying to illustrate in the example.  The illustration leads to the bigger part of the story, but I didn’t want to focus on that.

So, what is your purpose, and are you living the purpose God has set out for you?  I realize that is a loaded question.  We may never really know the true answer to it, but I think believing in Jesus is a good start to knowing your purpose. I know many of you have read the ‘Purpose Driven Life’.  The main point I took away from the book was – “There is more to life than nine to five.”  I wasn’t created to sift through accounting guidance. There is more! We must glorify God with all we do as He did create us with those talents.  However, we must not get high and mighty and think that is all we are to do. 

We all have a purpose, and I know it is more than just sitting and burning.  God has a calling for you to make a difference!  Go out and make it today!!

PRAYER

Jesus, You created everything for a purpose. May I never forget that on the days I feel down and “worthless”.  Help me to rely on You and work with You to help me define my purpose. May everything I do bring You glory! Keep me humble as we find this purpose together. AMEN

Tuesday, Ezekiel Chapter 16

Ezekiel 16

Verses 9, 10, 15

Tanya Ruden

Verse 9:  I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you. 

Verse 10:  I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put leather sandals on you.  I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments. 

Verse 15:  But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his.

THOUGHT

God took this woman and provided her with the means to be beautiful and popular. She had the wonderful opportunity to use this new found beauty and attention to do good for God.  Instead she chose completely the opposite; she chose to use her beauty to be a prostitute — something not pleasing to God.  Everything we have has been given to us by God. Without his blessings we wouldn’t have clothes, a home, cars, or the food we do. He provides us with the things we need on a daily basis. Would He be happy with the choices you have made relating to those things? Would He be happy with your wardrobe choices or with how you are spending the money He has given you? How are you using those things? Are you buying things to keep up with the others or are you buying them because you feel called by God to have it?  Are the things glorifying God?

God doesn’t call us to be without nice things or new things.  As in this story, He gave this woman the best, the most expensive and the most beautiful, but He asks us to use all of our things for His glory — not our own.  We are not to go around prancing and showing off our new things, making it look like it was us who earned it or deserved it.  It was God who provided us with the means to have the things we do.  We must be aware of our motive.  

Lastly, these verses reminded me of an article I just read this week in my Parent’s magazine about marketing of “Tween” clothes to younger and younger aged girls and how challenging it is to find appropriate girl clothing.  It begins as early as age 8.  I must instill in my girls what is appropriate to wear and what is not appropriate to wear.  I didn’t think I would have these conversations at age 8, but it has started.  This verse reminds me that I have an important job to help my daughter with her self-image.  I must hold myself accountable to what I purchase for my children. 

May we parents be good examples for our children.  

PRAYER

Jesus, we praise You for our freedom.  We don’t even realize most days how blessed we are to live here in the USA!!  May we never take for granted the freedom we have.  You bless us daily by providing for our needs.  We are so blessed.  May we never use the items You have given us for our glory.  May we always remember where everything we have comes from – not from our hard work but from YOU!!!  May You be glorified in all we do.  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN  

Wednesday, Ezekiel Chapter 17

Ezekiel 17

Verses 22-24

Mindy Strayer

Verses 22-24:  This is what the Sovereign Lord says:  “I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.  On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar.  Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.  All the trees of the field will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall.  I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I the Lord have spoken.”  

THOUGHT

My study Bible explained that the prophecy here is about God sending Jesus. After all of the rebellion against God and judgment carried out by God, how refreshing and relieving to hear about our Savior! He came that we might be saved from our rebellious and evil ways! The heart of our Father in heaven is so wide and deep. He had to execute judgment on the Israelites for He is righteous and holy. Oh, but praise God that He did not execute judgment on them without a plan for redeeming them.

PRAYER

Father God, we thank You for Jesus! We thank You that Your heart’s capacity to love us is not able to be measured because it is so wide, so deep and so long! Though we have times of unfaithfulness to You, God, You love us through it and continue to pursue our hearts with Your Holy Spirit. Go with us throughout the rest of our week and help us to show others the love that You so graciously showed us. In Jesus Name I Pray. AMEN

Thursday, Ezekiel Chapter 18

Ezekiel Chapter 18

Verse 20

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 20:  The soul who sins is the one who will die.  The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son.  The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.  

THOUGHT

Now this chapter I get!!  Ezekiel spells it out very simply.  Those who do wrong will die and those who live by God and His laws will surely live.  It does not matter what kind of a home you come from, the school you attend, the jobs that you have, the friends you have, the parents who raised you, the physical abilities that you have been gifted, or how striking your physical appearance is.  God judges each person individually.  God does not punish us for someone else’s sins, and we can’t use their mistakes as an excuse for our sins.  Each person is accountable to God for his or her actions.  

PLAIN – SIMPLE – JUST.  LIVE BY GOD’S LOVING CALL TO RIGHTEOUS LIVING!!  It is not a matter of fairness but of GRACE!!

PRAYER

Father in Heaven.  You have given us the Ten Commandments plus a new heart and a new spirit.  May there be a constant calling in our conscious and soul to live how You would want us to and to react the way that would be pleasing to You.  Show us the path that we should walk and the right road for us to follow.  Righteous living is to live with You in our heart and constantly on our mind.  In the Blood of Jesus.  AMEN

Friday, Ezekiel Chapter 19

Ezekiel 19

Mindy Strayer

THOUGHT

Chapter 19 tells about the failing kings of Judah and the judgment that they and their kingdom would experience. Ezekiel says that the nation of Judah would be uprooted, thrown to the ground, shriveled up, stripped of her fruit, and consumed by a fire only to be planted in a desert wasteland with no water. This same thing can happen to us and to the United States of America, because we too are forgetting our God and living sinful lifestyles. 

Can you imagine the nation of the United States of America having these things happen to her by an invading world power? The prideful arrogant side of me says no way that could never happen. But the Godly humble part of me says, “Oh God, of course this could happen, no country, no matter what their heritage, can escape the wrath of God if God is ready to pour out judgment.”  If not for the grace of God, who is still protecting this nation.  Would this happen?

PRAYER

Lord God in Heaven, it is with a grateful heart that we praise You this day.   Your goodness to us and to this nation, that we are fortunate to live in, have been great. This nation has been abundantly blessed since the laying of its foundation. We remember the first great leaders of the USA, those founding fathers, who were determined to have above all else One Nation Under God! We repent of our sins on behalf of the citizens of this country.  We cry out for them and their own repentance. Holy Spirit, please be in the hearts of every man and woman that proclaim Jesus as their Savior and cause them to turn from their sinful ways. Encourage us to take a stand for righteousness in this land.  We are called to love righteousness and hate sin.  We are to love the person but hate the sin. Jesus loved people, but He hated sin.  The proof is at the cross. Lord, give us wisdom to see situations with the light of God shone on them that we may behave and take a stand for God as we should. Walk with us, Lord, the rest of the week and guide our ways that they may be pleasing and honoring to You. We ask this in Jesus Name.  AMEN