Ezekiel 40:28-41:26 + James 4:1-17 + Psalm 118:19-29 + Proverbs 28:3-5
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Old Testament – Ezekiel chapters 40 and 41 in today’s readings include verses where we read a lot about measurements and cubits and such! I have to admit that I sometimes zone out a bit when reading these types of details in the Old Testament. However – something that popped into my mind once when reading through these types of verses that has benefited me greatly in my appreciation of measurements and such is this – God is a God of precision. God is a God of detail. God is an organized God. Which I think is great news! I mean, look at our own human bodies and all our internal organs. We are wonderfully made by a God who is a God of precision and detail. So, remembering this when I read these types of measurements verses helps. It helps me keep my focus and interest on what I’m reading. I hope this helps you in some way as you read through detailed chapters like these in the Bible. If God showed this much organization and care for Ezekiel’s Temple, do you suppose he continues to show his organization and care for our local churches today?
Ezekiel chapter 41 verse 3 stands out today: “Then he went into the inner room at the end of the Holy Place.” This is interesting in that the angelic being leading Ezekiel through this vision and the temple enters the Most Holy Place – Ezekiel does not. Even though it’s a vision. And even though God’s presence is not in the Most Holy Place at this time (we’ll see the Presence coming next chapter). Yet Ezekiel does not enter. Why? Because the law was that only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place. This shows great obedience on Ezekiel’s part! Even in a vision, he’s obedient. Are there areas of our life where God is calling us to be obedient? Even if we think our obedience in a specific circumstance or situation won’t matter (e.g. a vision or a dream or even a small circumstance in real life) – will we still be obedient? Below is one of my all-time favorite images demonstrating obedience that I have to post up a couple of times a year! 🙂
New Testament – James chapter 4 continues to just level me… This book is phenomenal. I need to read this book more than just once a year when I come around to it in the One Year Bible. The verse today that just made me set the Bible down for a minute and reflect was verse 4: “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can’t be a friend of God.” That is some heavy duty language… it pierced me in reading it today. Am I a friend of the world? Am I trying to be a friend of the world? Per this verse, where does this pursuit of the world put me with my relationship with God? Am I an “adulterer”, in the sense of my relationship with God and the world? (now, please keep in mind, I’m a huge fan and believer of grace… but sometimes we need to let verses like this really sink in. We need to reflect. And respond if need be… and let Jesus save us and heal us if need be…)
Verse 7 is something surely each one of us should commit to memory: “Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.” This is so true. Resist. And he will flee! Please know this is true! Resist!
And verse 8 is so true as well: “Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.” Another one to put into memory – and practice each day. Have you drawn close to God this very day? And has God drawn close to you?
Verse 14 I think is so helpful for us to remember – and to give Thanks for each day we have: “How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog–it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” Life is short. Every day is indeed a blessing and an opportunity to love and know God more. Please take advantage of each and every day God gives you. Diving into his Word each day through the One Year Bible is one amazing thing you can do every day. As is prayer of course!
Psalms – Psalm 118 is the last half of the psalm possibly sung by Jesus and the disciples after the Last Supper – see yesterday’s posting below for details. What an amazing Psalm… Verse 22 was quoted by Jesus in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10 and Luke 20:17 and he used this verse to refer to himself – “The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone.” Do you believe this verse applies to Jesus? Is Jesus the cornerstone in your life?
Verse 26 was the chant of the crowds as Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday” “Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD.” And verse 29 Michael W. Smith quotes in a song! “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” 🙂
Proverbs – Proverbs 28 verse 4 today teaches us: “To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them.” This is a great reminder that obeying God “heaps coals upon the head” of those who are not obeying God. Let us obey the Lord! Let us obey the lion of Judah!
Worship God: James 4:8 reminds me of Michael W. Smith’s song “Draw Me Close:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ0V97WOHAU
Have you drawn close to God? Click here and He will draw close to you!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8 ESV
Prayer Point: Pray that you draw near to God each and every day. Pray in thanksgiving that He draws near to you!
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
Ramona
Mike,
I just read your statement regarding the reading in James,
>>Am I trying to enjoy this world? Per this verse, where does this pursuit of the world put me with my relationship with God? Am I an “adulterer”, in the sense of my relationship with God and the world?>>
I have a question for you, “What is your understanding of “the world?” God created the world for us to live in. Terra firma earth has no other reason to exist except for us “beings” to live in it an reflect back to God His glory and to enjoy the glory of his creation. Paul states this,
As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for [our] enjoyment. (1 Timothy 6:17 AMP)
What we are in danger of doing is forgetting who created the Word and going after the things that were created instead of the One who created them.
Again, what is your understanding, or meaning of “the world? And how does one pursue the world? Some people in churches/denominations see “the world” as consisting of academic or intellectual knowledge outside of “The Bible,” and that is just one of many things that are identified by certain groups as being non-spiritual.
I have found in reading through the Bible that we all bring our experiences and prejudices into these pages and we fail to get God’s meaning so we take our fears, jealousies, short comings, etc. and turn them into denominational or personal rules and laws.
Does anyone else have any comments or think of things that some religious folks called “worldy” that you scratched your head and said, “What and How?” How many of us who visit this site changed churches or even denominations because of this sticky little topic.
Just something to think about.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
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Good question Ramona! I am going to have to think through this some more. But here’s some quick thoughts. I don’t mean to sound like an extreme aesthetic – abandon anything material for all things spiritual. But, I guess I personally just have a tendency to abandon things spiritual for things material. 🙂 So, I agree that God created the world and it is good. But when I begin to worship or idolize the created things, rather than the Creator, then I am sinning. And though this world is created good it is also fallen because of sin & the devil. There is clearly evil in the world that calls us and pursues us. I don’t think the world is evil – but evil is in the world.
I’ll keep thinking about this and I probably need to study on it some more. If anyone else has comments on the “world” and what James was trying to get at in these verses, please post up. Great discussion! Thanks again Ramona.
Mike
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Thanks for the insights today and yesterday on the importance of Psalm 118 in the Passover liturgy.
Jeff
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“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14 (TNIV)
Puts things nicely in perspective for us.
And yet, as Mike says, the grace of God also applies and He knows and loves each one of us – each one of these mists which appears and then vanishes.
Andrew
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Hmm,the other temple that was described in such great detail was a lot grander….I’m praying for grace so I can dig deeper in next years journey and be more consistent:)
James 4 hit me hard too…In the world there seems to be so much we want(thanks to heavy duty advertising)that we don’t really need.I guess we really need to pray that what gives us pleasure is what gives the Lord pleasure….yeah it would be nice to get a bigger house but I think God would be more impressed if my motive would be sheltering more people in the house as opposed to my wanting more space…just an example.I keep reminding myself Jesus walked he didn’t ride about in a chariot,he also said pick up your cross and follow me….I don’t know about you folks but I have to keep checking and praying I don’t get so comfortable in this world that I forget it’s not home..
God bless you all…..
Anka
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James 4:13 – 17 spoke to me so powerfully a few years ago. I was fresh out of uni and making plans to leave South Africa to go to the UK for one or two years. A lot of the reason behind it was about establishing my career, earning pounds to set myself up financially, and to do a bit of travelling (v13 – “we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money”). It was a “sure thing” because many of my fellow graduate class mates were already in the UK , or successfully planning to go, for similar reasons.
To cut a long story short, I was the only one of my class mates that was denied the visa I needed, and my bubble burst in a BIG way. You can imagine how the James verses cut straight to my heart after this experience: “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow…”.
I was completely humbled and had to go back to square one, but this time saying “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that”.
There’s a happy ending. In the year I would have been in the UK, I met and married my husband, who, oddly enough had planned to be in Germany that year, but his plans had been thwarted too.
God knows us so well, and knows what He’s doing. Praise Him! There is also so much he can do with a life surrendered to being moved by Him. God is good.
Caryn
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Thank you Mike for putting a new angle on these chapters in Ezekiel. I always cringe when coming to chapters such as these but now have a greater appreciation of them. Never thought of them as a sign of God’s perfect organization in the plan of things. God takes nothing for granted and with God nothing is left to chance. Boy, does that ever shoot a hole in the Darwin evolution theory!
God Bless,
Pat
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Re the Ezekiel’s temple I wonder if for us as New testament followers of Jesus the more accurate application of Temple truth is not to a ‘building’ but to the ‘temples of the Holy Spirit’. What if each of us paid attention to the details of ‘holy living’ as opposed to our ‘church square footage’. In fact, if we were to be as detailed in building our characters as we are about our church facilities I reckon we might come close to a mini revival.
Just after making comment on 2 Cor 6:14-18 Paul give some detail about ‘our temples’ he goes on to say in 2 Corinthians 7:1 ‘Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” Take note that in 2 corinthians 6:16 he says, “What agreement is thee between the temple of God and idols? FOR WE ARE HIS TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD.” Now let’s colabour with God to do some ‘precision’ work on our characters.
Luch
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James is such an eye-opener to read! Like everybody else I need eye-openers from time to time. It’s good to be reminded!
James 4:15 / Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Pretty easy to say things like “We’re going on vacation to Hawaii next Summer!”. Only God knows if you really go! If God wants you to be there, you’ll be there next Summer, if He doesn’t … well, then you’re not! Everything is ‘if it is the Lord’s will’. That’s why we should be thankfull for everything. Cause this all is God’s will! Just pray and ask for it, worship Him … thank Him … Give thanks to to LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 118:29)
Mae
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Mike
Just wanted to say how totally brilliant this blog is – I tend to read through before clinic, and -what a feast! I love the pictures-you must have a very similar wiring to me… it just brings everything to life. If the dogs are showing obedience what is the cat showing? Total feline arrogance? I think a movie of this incident would be more telling – how many mph was the cat travelling!
James
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We truly need to draw near to the Lord, and flee the devil (I liked the animated clipart!)The closer we are to Jesus, the farther away the enemy will stay! I also liked the Lion of Judah art.
Bizimama
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I wonder about Mike’s question about God’s care for our local churches today, in the sense of our church buildings by comparison with His detailed specifications for the temple.
I thought our theology teaches that under the new covenant established by Jesus the old covenant and the law, the priesthood, the temple sacrifices are fulfilled and superceded. Under the new covenant there is a paradigm shift to a new situation where the temple of the Lord is in us the people of God. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us. We have become the priesthood under the high priest the risen Jesus Christ.
So God is now more concerned about our relationship with Him individually and collectively and not so concerned about our organizations, institutions, hierarchies and buildings. With all these things there is a risk that we fall into idolatry and lose our focus on Jesus.
Any thoughts on this?
James
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Gotta admit, these Eze readings arent my fave. kinda like Leviticus and some chapters in Numbers. I know great teachers can really pull some amazing stuff from it. But very good point, God is a God of order and percision.
James is great to read…doesnt matter how many times you read something in the Word, you get something new everytime! v.1-3 are right on, gotta be careful and determine ur motives. We can fool ourselves sometimes into thinking our desires our Godly when in reality they are not (they are evil). Thats when u gotta pray God will reveal your heart to you….the heart is wicked, dont trust it. We still have our sin nature in us, though we are given a new heart and mind thru Christ, we arent always operating fully in the spirit. the flesh creeps in there. I had a verse posted up once on myspace (Psalm 37:4) and some guy i never really talked to n wasnt aware if he was a Christian straight out rebuked me for putting that verse up. I was hurt…but he was right! But how would this guy know my motives? he didnt…but God did and he was just the messenger. I was seeking to delight myself in the Lord in order to get God to give me this guy I wanted. But, God straight out used this other fellow to rebuke me. its true! God’s not a robot or maid we order around, trying to get wat we want from Him. Sure He longs to bless us, but its HIS will, He knows us so intimately deep down, what we think will delight our hearts, is wrong!! What did God give me? Not the guy I wanted, but a deeper, closer relationship with Him. I didnt realize THAT was what I wanted, but God knew that would be more fulflling. yes, i still love this guy, but I had to put this aside b’cos my soul desires Christ, my flesh desires this dude ;).
See, our hearts our wicked…dont ever trust them. I feel straight out awful for even confessing that to who knows how many ppl, but I’m know I’m not alone, just honest 😉
I was just thinking of this yesterday, then i read it last night in your blog…friendship with the world. I was thinking about how ppl at my work…my coworkers/friends have parties a lot and i never get invited, tho ppl at work like me plenty. but I overhear after the fact ppl talking about parties and stuff that everyone went to but me. . I was thinking of that yesterday…not really hurt, but wondering about it. then i thought, no way…I have chosen the road less traveled and will not walk away. that old lifestyle has no appeal to me anymore (Resist the devil and he will flee). I will walk the way of the cross, for its the better way. I have no regrets and know in the next world i will have no regrets.
Friendship with the world is to be “in the world” to love the things that are of the world…we are to be sanctified. We gotta be careful because the world can draw u in b4 you realize it! We cant leave the world as paul talks about somewhere?? It doesnt mean u cant have nonbeliver friends…this stumped me a bit as a young believer, we are to be a light on the dark, the salt of the earth, I truely love all my friends so much. But I dont see how you can have an deep, intimate friendship with a nonbeleiver…if you are walking in the light and they are not…its just not possible. Light and darkness cannot dwell together.
James is awesome but I better stop, this is getting reallly long!
I love this: ” The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” I used to listen to a song by Jars of Clay with that in the lyrics and really wondered what it meant, was really thinking about it and didnt even pray about it, but that Sunday at church the pastor discussed that verse the whole service. haha, God is sooo awesome!!! Who doesnt want a Father like this…that hears your innermost thoughts and desires and speaks to you when u dont even ask! God is so great!!
i really love the rest of that Psalm too! beautiful. Proverbs has great stuff. this is too long tho, i will meditate on it on my own. =)
Jenny
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Friendship with the world, -but we Christians are not from this world.
” Not from this world” – will tie man to God – and men to men. It is best expressed with service to Man, being a helper of the people the world sees as downtrodden,to show people how Jesus is a protector and teacherand much more. This is how the world can see God’s Spirit in you and that you are an offspring of God.They will do the walk and lead; and if other people from this world like it, they will use it too.That will be all inclusive friendship, being like a fisherman for people – to learn, that with this kind of strength, it is duty of self-sacrifice. Strength means duty and not oppression in God’s world. Love is deeper, greater and divine in this kind of friendship. Be blessed!
Cherry
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Thank you for the music. It’s comforting to know that the Lord is there for us on UTube. We need him everywhere. I’m going to work on memorizing James 4:8. I love it in its simplicity and thankful for its existence.
JD
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James chapter 4- If you are a christian it is almost imposible to be one with the world. Every thing the world does comes against what God says. Hanging out with worldly people is hard. however witnessing to them is easy. to witnes does not mean hanging with them. that will not work
Antonietta
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Being in the world and not of the world is the ultimate challenge!
Being Gods image and reflecting Gods image has to be our main focus.
Evangelism is also our main theme but not in in the way the world does it with all that competition among all the various denominations. God promises us all kinds of miracles if we obey him.
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.
Mar 16:17 And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18 they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
David
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Ezekiel was a very Interesting book. i can’t wait to read the book of Daniel. Daniel is a prophetic book in relates to end time bible prophecy. especially prophecies concerning jesus first coming and death on the cross. and the vision Daniel saw of jesus in heaven.
Also in relates to the peace talks in Daniel9:27. we know that the Antichrist will confirm a covenant with Israel for one week. marking the start of the final seven years of tribulation
Bentley
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Your picture today of the cat walking past all those German Shepards reminds me also of Psalm 23 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Ginny Meyer
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James 4:8 is where God revealed Him to me some 20 plus years ago on a personal level. If you have been reading this blog and have felt like someone standing outside looking in, read James 4:8 again. Take God at His Word, receive his Son and the free gift of salvation, then draw near to Him daily and let Him change you. A great way to do this is to literrally go to a quiet place, read this blog, read the Word, ask God how He wants you to change you and then go out and do it, respond to every challenge in God’s strength and return the next day to your ” drawing near to God time” and let Him restore you and challenge again. God really wants a relationship with you, you personally. He will do as His Word says, if you respond, so will He.
Hein
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“If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” I was just chatting my kids about what they want to do in the future. This passage is such a great reminder that our lives are given by Him for a purpose. Sometimes I do wonder how I am personally fulfilling His calling; I can only think of the people that He has allowed me to serve and even though it is not an earth shattering ministry but I trust that these young lives will be useful in His kingdom in the future. My mission is simply to be faithful in pointing them to the cross. May we seek to do His will more than our own.
Karen
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It’s important to quote scripture accurately. James 4.7 in total states:
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
It is a scripture with a promise & a condition. The condition is that we first must SUBMIT to God, then RESIST the devil. It is only by our submission to God will we have the God given power & strength to be able to resist the devil. It is in God’s authority that causes the devil to flee.
Acts 19.14-16 is an example of what can happen if you don’t.
14Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.
Nancy
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God is a God of detail. I love that about him. He is specific and likes things just so and orderly. I qisg I had jist a thimbleful of his order. I do maybe at certain times of the year but that’s it. Lol
Abram was all about God’s ways and Lot was about the world’s ways..which one are you? Life is short..pray hard.
Such good verses to live by! Bless the Lord Oh soul! Give thanks to the Lord..my God and King. His love endures forever! Amen!
Let us obey the Lord and doing so will heap burning coals on the wicked. Obey the Lion of Judah! Amen
Dee
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