Ezekiel 31:1-32:32 + Hebrews 12:14-29 + Psalm 113:1-114:8 + Proverbs 27:18-20
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Old Testament – I think Ezekiel chapter 31 starts out with a trick question from God to Egypt in verse 2: “Son of man, give this message to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and all his people: “To whom would you compare your greatness?”” The proper answer to this question is probably somewhere along the humble lines of, “no one – I am not great at all. I wouldn’t dare compare myself to others. Everything I am and have comes from you God.” Think Pharaoh would answer the question in this humble way? 🙂 Better yet – maybe we should ask ourselves this question today as well. And think about how we would answer it. What if someone stops you on the street tomorrow and asks you this question. What would be your reply? Here it is. I ask this of you now: “To whom would you compare your greatness?”
Ezekiel chapters 31 & 32 are great studies on pride… pride of a nation, and pride of individuals. And the dangers of pride – where pride will ultimately lead someone. In chapter 32 verse 19 God asks the rhetorical question (not a trick question this time) – “`O Egypt, are you lovelier than the other nations? No! So go down to the pit and lie there among the outcasts.'” Today in our lives, do we ever struggle with pride? Do we compare ourselves to others? Do we consider ourselves lovelier than others? My hunch is that we too often do…
New Testament – Hebrews chapter 12 verse 14 starts out strong with: “Try to live in peace with everyone, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” I love this! If we seek to live in peace with everyone and live a clean and holy life people around us will see the Lord. This is very powerful to think about… You’ve probably heard this said before: “You may be the only Bible anyone ever reads”. Or “you may be the only Jesus anyone ever meets.” (not you being Jesus of course, but Christ within you shining through you!) Are you living in peace with everyone? Are you seeking to live a clean and holy life? Are others seeing the Lord in you? Are others reading the Bible through you?
Verse 28 stands out to me today: “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” This is an interesting phrasing – worship God with holy fear and awe. It reminds me a lot of a lyric in Chris Tomlin’s single, “Indescribable.” He sings – “humbly we fall to our knees and say, “you are amazing God!”” That one word “humbly” jumped out at me in this song. It seems to me that there should be some reverence, holy fear, awe, and humility as we worship God? And maybe not just take worship and our relationship for God lightly? But be thankful for the opportunity to worship God? Just some questions… Because then verse 29 tells us “For our God is a consuming fire.” Which reminds me of a great Third Day song…. 🙂
Psalms – Psalm 113 & 114 today are very interesting and important Psalms! These are 2 of 6 Psalms, 113 to 118, that form the “Egyptian Hallel.” These Psalms were used in Jewish liturgy at the great religious festivals of Passover, Tabernacles, Dedication, Weeks, New Moon. At Passover Psalm 113 & 114 were sung before the meal and Psalms 115 – 118 were sung after the meal. As you read these two Psalms today, do you sense joy in the Lord’s work? Justice? Glory? Power? Does reading these two Psalms make you want to celebrate and give thanks for the Lord and all he has done throughout history and in your life?
Proverbs – This week in Proverbs 27 verse 19 we read: “As water reflects a face, so a person’s heart reflects the person.” How is your heart these days? Take a minute and really reflect on this question. How is your heart? Your heart toward others? Toward your family? Toward God? Toward Jesus? Is your heart full of love? Overflowing with love? (if maybe not, please read First Corinthians chapter 13 for a good refresher on love) What is your heart reflecting to others you come in contact with these days? Are you reflecting love to others? Are you reflecting Jesus?
Worship Video: Hebrews 12:29 of course reminded me of the fantastic Third Day song “Consuming Fire:”
Do you know our God who is a Consuming Fire? Click here for His flame to burn down deep in your soul!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray that you are living at peace with others. Pray that you are pursuing holiness in your life, through a saving faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and by His grace. Pray that others see the LORD through your pursuit of holiness and by God’s grace.
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:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
====== Anka:
He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and he who looks after his master will be honored….This verse reminds me what my attitude should me towards my consultant at work….many times as residents,we do work that’s not really related to our field,work overtime…Yet our training is really not what it should be…I guess many people have complaints against their bosses,maybe rightly so…Like the word in Hebrews said”endure hardship like disciple”by our attitude the grace of God will be shown and we can as Mike said be the bible that people read….
God bless you all
Anka
===== Pat:
Proverbs 27 verse 19 Really made me stop and think about “How is my heart?” Wow! I had to be honest in this area, my heart has not been very good lately. Thank you for reminding me, I prayed to God that he would heal my heart, and that I would be less judging, and more loving. Thank You again. Have a Blessed day!
Peggy
===== Mae:
“As water reflects a face, so a person’s heart reflects the person.” How is your heart these days? Take a minute and really reflect on this question. How is your heart? Your heart toward others? Toward your family? Toward God? Toward Jesus? Is your heart full of love? Overflowing with love?
This really stands out for me today … I ask myself this question very often, just to be sure that I live with an open and honest heart. My heart towards my family, relatives, God and Jesus is a question that doesn’t really have to be asked. Towards them my heart is definitly overflowing with love. Thinking about them makes my heart glow, thinking about them makes me feel happy and I want to treasure them in my heart forever. But then there are people that dislike me or people that I have a heart time liking. I always ask God for strength to love them. He’ll help me to love them, He’ll help me to find a place in my heart for them. It’s not easy, but with God’s help I know I can accomplish this. It’s important to have a good heart … indeed, it reflects your person.”
Mae
====== David:
Death and Destruction are never satisfied,
and neither are human eyes. This proverb is so true! Our hearts may be in the right place then our eyes temps us and deceives us. Pride has so much to do with what we see and comparing ourselves with what we see. Even our own beauty we compare and we don’t think of it as God’s work and praise God for it. Instead we adorn it and worship it instead of worshiping God. The most comeliest person has a human heart which is the most beautiful thing.
A man who is addicted to pornography has eyes that can never be satisfied. His own wife’s beauty is not enough for him.
Being hip and still being a Christian has a lot to do with pride and judging our worth by what we see. I pray for myself and Christians everywhere that we are not consumed by the lust of the eyes. This weakness that humans have makes the devils job so much easier!
David
===== Bob:
A lot of what we are seeing and talking about today has to do with a term I like to use that speaks to our own thoughts, words and actions. “LIFESTYLE EVANGELISM”.
I quote from Martin Luther’s morning prayer, “I pray that You (God)would keep me this day from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You.”
Amen
Bob
====== Jane:
I heard from a Christian speaker if we are flawless snd blameless before Christ we will never have to defend ourselves. We are free from that if we are aligning ourselves up with God. Kind of ties in who and what we are reflecting!
Jane
===== Jim:
I really appreciate your commentary Mae. Well said!
Jim
====== Karen:
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. As I think of this warning, I think of the people or government that I don’t like and yet I am asked to live in peace with them. But perhaps the focus is on being holy myself rather than the object of my attention. Indeed without His grace, it can’t be done.
Karen
======= Dee:
We should never compare with Christ greatness and when ones ask where do we fwf our greatness..we should say from the Lord!!
I try to live in peace and live a sensible Christ filled life. I pray that God’s protection flow through me and around me. Opposition comes at times..we are all human too..however I want God’s peace to flow..amen
The picture shown above for Psalms made me think of orphans and giving unto 3rd world which we should help when we can. Hallelujah
Proverbs I pray others see my heart and see it pure and the best intentions
Dee
====== Vance:
QUESTION:
(from AMPLIFIED BIBLE):
Ezekiel 31:2
Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: Whom are you like in your greatness?
ONLY APPROPRIATE ANSWER:
A. Call, Divine
1. TO REPENTANCE
ALL VERSES IN CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION (CEV)unless otherwise noted.
a. Jeremiah 35:15
You refused to listen to my prophets, who kept telling you, “Stop doing evil and worshiping other gods! Start obeying the LORD, and he will let you live in this land he gave your ancestors.”
b. Ezekiel 33:11
Tell them that as surely as I am the living LORD God, I don’t like to see wicked people die. I enjoy seeing them turn from their sins and live. So if the Israelites want to live, they must stop sinning and turn back to me.
c. Hosea 6:1-3
1
Let’s return to the LORD. He has torn us to shreds, but he will bandage our wounds and make us well.
2
In two or three days he will heal us and restore our strength that we may live with him.
3
Let’s do our best to know the LORD. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.
B. Wisdom’s Call
Proverbs 1: 20,32, 33
20
Wisdom [ NOTE ] shouts in the streets wherever crowds gather.
32
Sin and self-satisfaction bring destruction and death to stupid fools.
33
But if you listen to me, you will be safe and secure without fear of disaster.”
[ NOTE ]
Wisdom: In the book of Proverbs the word “wisdom” is sometimes used as though wisdom were a supernatural being who was with God at the time of creation.
C. Divine Ability To raise up children from stones
Luke 3:8
Do something to show that you really have given up your sins. Don’t start saying that you belong to Abraham’s family. God can turn these stones into children for Abraham.
[ NOTE ]
[ NOTE ]
Children for Abraham: The Jewish people thought they were God’s chosen people because of God’s promises to their ancestor Abraham.
[ MY NOTE ]
Past promises, past deliverances cannot provide current promises, current deliverances.
Vance
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