PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Ezekiel 23-24
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity.” (Ezekiel 24:13)
In these chapters of wrath and judgment, God is not being petty or mean.
Previous chapters describe how corrupt the leaders had become (22:25-29).
God constantly tried to help them, to keep them from ruining themselves.
But like foolish prostitutes, they sold themselves cheaply, and lost their lives.
My life may not be exactly like Israel’s in these chapters.
But God is constantly trying to help me, to keep me from ruining myself.
As a Jesus follower, do I really want to be LIKE Jesus?
Is the Jesus Way of living my goal in life, am I really aiming for it?
Or am I aiming low, and ending up as low as my goals?
I was made for so much more, yet I often settle for less than the best.
My weaknesses are different from yours, but I do have them, and so do you.
Satan is also constantly working to tempt, trick, distract, deceive and ruin us.
God is trying to cleanse us through Jesus, by the Spirit… if we let him.
Where are you allowing lesser loves and lower behaviors bring you down?
PRAYER
Lord, you want so much more for me than I presently know. Forgive me for settling for less than LIFE to the full. Forgive me for being content with lukewarm faith, hope and love.
“Since you have forgotten me and turned your back on me, you must bear the consequences…So I will put an end to lewdness in the land”. Threats and prophecies but finally God will act as He has said and cleanse the land. Sin is what it is – it contaminates – it stains us and has a habit of germinating within us and draw us further away. We too must be cleansed. ‘Nip-it-in-the-bud’ – don’t let it become full blown as it did for both Israel and Judah. Lord you remind me that sin is that must be confessed -Lord help me to always be honest with you and not neglect my walk with you!
Do this and live.
That is what the Master said.
Yet all too often I go my own way and not His.
And God continues to come to His own to remind them/me of His word. He uses the events to turn people from their own desires to know Him and serve Him. Daily I need to open my eyes to see how the Lord is working in my life. Others need to see Him in me – as a sign that I am serving the King and not myself. Use me Lord as a sign of Your presence not only in my life but also in this Your world.
This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!