PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Ezekiel 27-28
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Your heart became proud on account of your beauty…” (Ezekiel 28:14)
Ezekiel describes the king of Tyre as an incarnation of evil (‘satan’).
(The same as the king of Babylon in Isaiah 14:12-15).
Over time, we tend to become like that which we love and serve.
Most people I know do not love ‘satan’, but do the love ‘evil’?
Looking out for #1, using others for personal advantage.
Twisting the truth to serve our needs, using words to hurt others.
Evil does not show up with pitchfork and horns; it is more subtle than that.
It whispers distracting and discouraging thoughts into our minds.
It lures us subtly, gently towards the dark side before we realize it.
Many have been lulled or lured – including christians – to folly and defeat.
Only Jesus was able to say no, and only Jesus can help us to say no.
The more we focus on Jesus, the more we become like him.
Very few people choose ‘satan’, yet is that in effect what they are doing?
May our hearts become humble and devoted to Jesus, because of his beauty!
PRAYER
Lord, I want to become more like you. I want people to sense your beauty (grace, kindness, love) through me. Help me to give in to you and not ‘satan’.
“your heart has grown proud.” A day of reckoning – the pride of the nations surrounding Judah will be brought down. “when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Nothing is hidden from God sight. We may wonder when will there be accountability for injustice – for extravagance, for aggression? It will come, God is watching and He does care for those who call on Him. Lord, help me not to lose hope but to stay focused on what I should do – listening to your leading!
My words and deeds – do they witness that I serve a risen Saviour or do I serve myself? All that I have is by His grace. His Spirit needs to guide me each day as I serve Him. I must be a light in this world for Jesus. I need to walk in His footsteps every day. Others need to see Christ living in me.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey