Jesus taught that all scripture testifies about him so that in him we might have life (John 5v39-40). King David taught that it is only by living according to God's word that we're kept on the right path (Psalm 119v9). What then could be better than reading the entire Bible? Click the menu to read about the program, choose a month or Bible book - or just work through the blog posts day by day.
BEGIN WITH PRAYER
"Lord open my eyes and my heart."
Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world.
Wisdom to chew on
Understanding to grow in
It must have been an uncomfortable thing to visit Ezekiel, knowing the LORD might reveal the secret things of your life to him. And so here, as elders engaged in idolatry come to enquire of God through him in Babylon, the Lord asserts that he is against them, and that he will remove them from amongst his people just as he will bring destruction on the Israelites still in Jerusalem because of their idolatry. Moreover, he is clear that the presence of some who are righteous (that is faithful) will not stop that. They will be saved, but unable to save others. It reminds us that if we have substituted anything or anyone for God, giving it our ultimate allegiance and looking to it for what God gives then, as James puts it, we are adulterers against God. So we cannot expect him to answer our prayers. Rather, we must accept that he opposes us (Jam 4v3-6)! We should note too, that the Lord reveals to Ezekiel that he will be against any prophets who give such people a prophecy - presumably a rebuke to those who might give them a positive message as if the Lord is for them. In the same way, he is against preachers who refuse to rebuke such people in the church, but who just keep teaching them as if the Lord is for them. As you read consider the equivalents today.
Ezekiel 14-15
Ezekiel 14-15
Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:
1) What’s the main thing it teaches me about God or his purposes in Christ? Then praise him for this.
2) What’s the main thing it teaches me about his will for me or the world? Then pray that home.
Devotion to offer up
You could read this aloud and perhaps as a springboard to further prayer.