THE STORY OF JESUS: Ezekiel 22-24
“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.
Ch.21 describes 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?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
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.
The word of the Lord comes again and again to the people. But do we hear?
Who am I listening to?
How am I living from day to day? His way or my way.
God’s way gives life and life eternal.
Man’s way leads to death and death eternal.
I need the Spirit working mightily within me to keep me in the way that I need to go – the King’s highway.
Open my eyes Lord.
Open my ears Lord.
Help me to see You in my daily affairs and how you also show your might and power and presence by the various happenings in this Your world. My world belongs to God.
1 How shall the young direct their way?
What light shall be their perfect guide?
Your Word, O Lord, will safely lead
if in its wisdom they confide.
2 Sincerely I have sought you, Lord,
O let me not from you depart;
to know your will and keep from sin,
your Word I cherish in my heart.
3 O blessed Lord, teach me your law,
your righteous judgments I declare;
your testimonies make me glad,
for they are wealth beyond compare.
4 Upon your precepts and your ways
my heart will meditate with awe;
your Word shall be my chief delight,
and I will not forget your law.