Unforgettable Words

 NOVEMBER 17, 2023
 Daily Reading – Ezekiel 5-8 / Hebrews 12

 GOD’S WORD:

Ezekiel 7:26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Listen. In the back of your mind, you will hear the voice of your parents as you read this next line. Ready? “If you would’ have listened to me the first time, this would have never happened.” You heard it didn’t you? The reason you recall those words is because at some point in your life, you did not listen to their advice. People think somehow, life has changed over the past few thousand years. Yes, we have more gadgets, more things to take up our time, and faster transportation. Yet, when we get right down to it, living is still getting up in the morning, doing our daily routines, and going to bed. The problem then becomes, what are our daily routines.

        The children of Israel had gone so far from God that their daily routines now included going to God’s House as well as worshipping other gods. Crying to false goddesses and burning incense to idols. Their daily routine did not include God, because in their eyes God did not care about them, nor was he watching. God told Ezekiel, I am watching and what I see makes me sick. He said, I will destroy this way of life, and then they will want to know what the priests see for their future, but the priests will not know. If they had followed God’s way of life to begin with, their future was already mapped out for them. There is no new better way to live. The way to live better is to live by the book. To envision your life without God, is to envision a life full of misery and trials. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Making a life plan must begin with God. He must be a part of your everyday routine. Read His Word, pray, seek His will. Listen carefully. You will almost hear the voice of God saying, “If you would only have listened to me the first time this would have never happened.

Are you listening?

 

Unveiling The Way

 NOVEMBER 16, 2023
 Daily Reading – Ezekiel 1-4 / Hebrews 11

 GOD’S WORD:

Ezekiel 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        The question rings out loud and clear from Genesis 4:9,“…Am I My Brothers Keeper?” Cain had just murdered Abel, and God was asking him where his brother was. Cain is sort of saying, am I responsible for the welfare of my brother? On the one hand the answer must be no. No one can secure the complete safety or security of another person. However, we also must answer the question, “yes.” Everyone is somewhat responsible for doing the best they can to keep one another from harm.

        In today’s verse Ezekiel is given the position of watchman. You could sort of call him the assigned, “Brothers Keeper.” God explains to Ezekiel what the job entails. He said, I have given you a warning for the people. If you do not share the warning and they die, it is just as if you killed them. You will be responsible for their death. However, if you do the best that you can to warn them and they do not listen, your hands are clean, you did the best you could. Jesus gave us the same charge in Mark 16:15-16,“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” We can never save the world. God knows that. Still, we can do our part. God knows that too. “Am I my Brothers Keeper?” “Yes,” you are a watchman, for today. You are called to unveil the way

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        God knows what we cannot do and does not expect that of us. However, we and God both know what we can do. He does expect that of us. Are we doing our part? Are we visiting the lost, witnessing, sending, and handing out tracks?

Are we unveiling the way of salvation?

 

Until Then

 NOVEMBER 15, 2023
 Daily Reading – Lamentations 3-5 / Hebrews 10

 GOD’S WORD:

Lamentations 4:6 For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Growing up, I recall several different methods my parents would use to punish me when I had done something wrong. The reason I remember so many of them is because it seemed I was always doing something wrong. I am not sure of this, but it may have been that my dad and mom sat up at night trying to think of new ways to make me behave. I was stood in the corner, sent to my room without supper, (most of you who know me can see that I never starved,) made to do a chore that I hated, (which was most of them,) and the list goes on. Thinking back, I believe one of the worst punishments that my mom dished out was the famous line, “You wait until your father gets home and I tell him what you did. Go to your room and wait for him.” Now folks, this was before computers, television in every room, cell phones, or any phones for that matter. When I went to my room, all I could really do was imagine the spanking I was going to get when my dad heard of my newest naughtiness. Until then, fear. I was not afraid of my dad. I loved him and knew he loved me. I was afraid of the punishment he would have to give me for my misbehavior.

 

        In Lamentations 4:6, Jeremiah says the punishment for Israel’s sin was worse than that of Sodom. Why? Well Sodom’s punishment was over in a day. Done. However, the people of Israel got to think about what they had done, and how it hurt God, year, after year, after year. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Why the difference in punishments? Israel knew God intimately and sinned anyway. Do you have an intimate relationship with God? If so, just know, we never get away with sin. God will deal with his children. Until then…

You do remember, your heavenly Father loves you, right?

 

Unmarked Paths

 NOVEMBER 14, 2023
 Daily Reading – Lamentations 1-2 / Hebrews 9

 GOD’S WORD:

Lamentation 2:15 All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        The beauty, the splendor, how magnificent was the temple Solomon had built. People from everywhere came to marvel at the place he built for his God. A visible mark on earth of the Majesty of the God he served. However, the children of Israel had taken God for granted. The glamour of the temple did not matter, the worship inside was fake and pretentious. God had warned them if they forsook Him what would happen. God never lies. The city and temple now lay in ruin and the people of this God were mostly in captivity. Did God forsake them? No, they forsook God. So gradual was the turning from God to the world, many may have been taken by surprise. They should have known. The scrolls, the temple, and God dwelt among them. Yet, life was good. They did not see a need for God. Gradually they walked away from the way of life God created for them to enjoy.

 

        Our churches today do not enjoy the standing they once did. There has been a gradual turning from God’s way, and perversion of God’s Word. Society has redefined the family structure. Youth today know little of God’s Word because, we know little ourselves. Christian’s lives resemble the world, and we wonder why unbelievers shake their heads and laugh at Christians today. Not what God intended nor what His Word declares. We have not cleared a path for our children to walk or voiced the truths of God’s Word for fear of our pride being hurt. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        What more can we expect of those who follow if we are not willing to proclaim the Gospel. Find a way to open up about your faith. Memorize scripture and share it with your children. Be open about what you believe and mark out a path for them to follow.

Where are we leading today?

 

Understand The Danger

 NOVEMBER 13, 2023
 Daily Reading – Jeremiah 51-52 / Hebrews 8

 GOD’S WORD:

Jeremiah 52:13-14 And burned the house of the LORD, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire: And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem round about.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        The feeling of security is something everyone loves. In America, for so many years, many people have felt the absolute sense of “I am safe here.” However, we must look at the past.

        Israel had a temple built by Solomon for God, by God’s own design. One of the most spectacular structures said to have ever been built. When it was finished, God Himself said He would dwell there among His people. God’s Home, you might say. Therefore, for many years, God had protected the land from destruction. Nothing and no one seemed to be able to get to them. Their enemies could not defeat them and all who lived there felt safe. Babylon was a distant country for travel at the time. Security was not on their mind, because they had always felt secure. Their ancestors had followed God, so God protected them. They felt so safe, that they began to forget, God was providing their security. They had begun to follow other gods. Oh, they still with lip service honored God, but He was one among many now. It was because of their disobedience and rebellious life God allowed His people to be taken slaves, the land to be destroyed, and His very own dwelling place including all the articles inside to be destroyed and taken.

        Looking at America and the way it has gone, how safe do you feel NOW? Pray that your elected officials might come to know God and do His will. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        We need to fall on our knees once again and ask God to give us the courage to stand up in the face of sinful, liberal lies that tell us, sin really does not matter. My friend, it matters greatly. If not to us, it matters to God. We must understand the danger of sin.

Do you see the dangers of sin?

 

COMING SOON – OUR FIRST PUBLISHED IN PRINT DEVOTIONAL BOOK –
“Work Week DEVOTIONS – Through The Book Of PROVERBS”