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| Sunrise on the NC coast - the last morning at the beach before heading back to the NC mountains |
My Meditations on Today's Readings
(Ellipses are mine and are used for contemplation.)
Key Words – Then you shall know that I am the LORD x 5, in
their sight x 5, I am a sign to you,
vision, the word I speak will be done, the anchor of my soul, from foundations to perfection, patiently endure to obtain the promise, my hope
Revelations to Ezekiel
in the Spirit – Ezekiel 11 and 12 – (Facts:
What It Says – Summarized) – Why Judah is
Punished: Judah is being judged by God because “their princes who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel, have not
walked in God’s statutes, but have walked according to the customs of the
Gentiles which are all around them. “ The Punishment: “I will
deliver you into the hands of strangers and execute judgments on you.” Ezekiel’s
greatest concern: That God will
destroy all of Israel and Judah, with no remnant left. God’s response to
Ezekiel: All…your…brethren, relatives, countrymen…and all the house of Israel…in
its entirely…have said…’Get far away
from the LORD’. Yet…I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they
have gone. I shall…gather…assemble….give…you
the land of Israel. They will take away
all the detestable things and all its abominations from there. I will put a new spirit within them…will give
the one heart…will take the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a
heart of flesh…THAT…they may walk in My statutes…and keep My judgments and
do them.” What God says are the manifestations of a rebellious
spirit: “This rebellious house
has eyes to see but does not see, and hears to hear but does not hear. A Sign to Them: Once again, God calls Ezekiel to be an
object lesson to Israel. “Prepare your belongings for captivity; go
into captivity by day in their sight…dig through the wall in their sight…bear
them on your shoulders and carry them out at twilight…cover your face, so that
you cannot see the ground. I will spare
a few of their men…Then they shall know that I am the LORD…FOR…no more…shall there be any false vision
or flattering divination within the house of Israel…FOR I am the LORD; I speak
and the word which I speak…will…come to pass; it will no more be postponed…I
will say the word and perform it, says the Lord GOD” Principle: The time
of judgment has come; mercy will still be shown to a remnant, but God will
fulfill His covenantal word regarding curses for wickedness.
From Foundations
to Perfection through the Spirit – Hebrews 6- (Facts: What It Says –
Summarized) There is a time for
foundational truths: These
foundational truths of faith are “repentance
from dead works…faith toward God…the doctrine of baptisms…of laying on of
hands…of resurrections of the dead…of eternal judgment”. Concern: Believers are to move beyond these
foundational truths to the perfection of their faith…”And this we will do if God permits it.” A
Falling Away? FOR…it is impossible…for those who were once enlightened…and have tasted the
heavenly gift…and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit…and have tasted the
good word of God…and the powers of the ages to come…to renew them again to
repentance…since…they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him
to open shame. Confidence
of Better Things: God is not unjust to forget…your
work…and labor of love…which you have shown toward His name…in that…you have
ministered to the saints and do minister. Desire for Believers:
“That each one of you show…the
same diligence to the full assurance of hope…until the end…that…you do not
become sluggish. Imitate...those
who…through faith and patience…inherit the promise.” Remember
God’s Promise to Abraham: He will be blessed and multiplied…and…after….he had patiently
endured…he obtained the promise. The Immutability of God’s Promise: It is impossible for God to lie. He swore by Himself (no greater
authority). Our
Strong Consolation: to lay hold
of the hope set before us. This hope we
have set before us as an anchor of
the soul…sure…steadfast…which enters the Presence…behind the veil…where
the forerunner has entered for us – even Jesus…having become High Priest
forever…according to the order of Melchizedek.
Principle: “Our hope in Christ gives us a firm and rock-solid confidence
that nothing life throws at us can ultimately move us. This hope reaches to the very throne of God
Himself to bring us comfort and assurance.” (Charles Stanley, Life Principles Daily
Bible, pg. 1362
My Lessons and
Applications - Jesus Christ is the anchor of my soul. He is my High Priest, my Intercessor, my
Mediator, my Lord and Savior. He is my
hope, my help, my sanctuary and my refuge. Through His sacrificial work on the
cross and His resurrection, I am taken into the heavenly places before the very
throne of God when I enter into the sacred privilege of prayer. My responsibilities are knowledge and
application of His Word through the leading of His Holy Spirit, intercessory
prayer and communion with Him, and obedience to Him, to the honor and glory of
God.
There
are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than
speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God,
and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in
his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the
real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they
hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they
neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They
love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they
will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree,
but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not
stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord. . . .”
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