September 11 -- "His Name Means Everything"

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 20:1-26 

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Do you have a good name? Do you consider your good name and reputation to be important to you? Well, multiply that by infinity and you'll get a glimpse of how much God cares about His good Name! His incredible holiness and desire for a loving relationship with us drive Him to protect His reputation. 

By the way, the reason we capitalize “Name” when referring to God is to show respect and reverence for Him and to differentiate between the general use of "name" and the specific reference to God's sacred Name. In fact, many Jews, when they come across God's name while reading the Old Testament aloud, will pause and substitute it with the words "The Name" out of deep respect and reverence for the holiness and sacredness of God' Name.

So, let’s talk about the Israelites for a minute. Despite experiencing God’s amazing power firsthand, they rebelled against Him and did not honor His Name nor reflect His love and power to the world around them. Imagine the disrespect! God had to step in, not just to discipline them, but also to safeguard His incredible character from being misunderstood by the world.

Why was this so important? Because God is holy and perfect, and His Name (LORD, Yahweh, Jehovah, Adonai) represents who He is. When His chosen people messed up, it put a stain on His beautiful reputation. Plus, God had made a special promise between Himself and the Israelites. Their disobedience was like them breaking a promise with their Heavenly Father - it hurt!

But here’s the amazing thing: God wanted the Israelites to show the world who He is – a loving, gracious, powerful God. Their failure to do this meant He had to step in and remind everyone of His greatness. It was all about protecting His good Name so that people everywhere would know Him as the true and living God. This all comes from a place of love. God doesn’t want anyone to miss out on His incredible love and care. He wants everyone on Earth to turn away from their wrongdoings and experience His amazing grace.  Just like it says in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”  This tells us that He longs for salvation to come to each and every human being. And, that's why He is so careful to protect His name and reputation.

May the sacredness of God's Name dwell deeply within you. As a bearer of His light, may your life shine forth His holiness and truth to a hurting world.

September 10 -- "The Price of Unrighteous Rule"

 Today's Reading: Ezekiel 19

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A nation's strength and prosperity depend on the integrity of its core values and the moral character of its people, which must be rooted in righteousness. In Ezekiel 19, we find Ezekiel’s expression of sorrow and mourning (lamentation) over the state of his nation which has strayed far from the moral character of its foundations in God.

This chapter is a powerful reminder that when society strays from God, it risks destructive consequences. The phrases "no strong stem" and "no scepter for ruling" in verse 14 refer to the destruction and loss of leadership within Judah, God's chosen nation. These phrases paint a vivid picture of a once-thriving tree now barren, lacking the essential components needed for growth and stability. Ezekiel’s use of these phrases indicates that the ability for a strong ruler to arise from within the nation has been removed. This suggests a lack of leadership, stability, and guidance for the nation due to its moral decay.

The metaphor of fire consuming a nation's fruit illustrates how detachment from moral foundations leads to gradual decline. This truth is timeless and essential for us to understand: our individual choices have the power to ripple outward and impact communities and entire nations.

To maintain our personal roots in righteousness, we must diligently draw nourishment from God’s Word. As we do, our spiritual compass stays true, guiding our decisions and actions. In this way, we lay a firm foundation for personal and societal flourishing.

As followers of Christ, it's crucial that we stand as pillars of moral strength, radiating God's light in a world prone to moral decay. Our commitment to righteousness sends a ripple effect throughout the culture, influencing others for good.

May our lives exemplify the transformative power of righteousness, shining brightly even in difficult times. And may the Lord grant us wisdom to heed His words and guidance, that we may flourish under strong leadership and maintain stability in our nation.

September 9 -- "Divine Forgetfulness"

 Today's Reading: Ezekiel 18

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Can God forget?  The Bible says there is one thing He can, and will, forget - your sin! God's divine forgetfulness is a powerful expression of His grace, offering forgiveness and a fresh start to those who turn from their sinful ways.

In today's post, we explore the profound grace found in Ezekiel 18:22, where God declares that when a sinner repents, all past transgressions are forgiven and – believe it or not – totally forgotten. This divine forgetfulness doesn't imply a limitation in God's memory or omniscience; rather, it speaks to the richness of His grace and the complete removal of sin from the relationship between God and the repentant individual.

As humans, we often remember past wrongs and let them impact our present interactions. However, God, in His infinite mercy, chooses not to hold onto our sins or allow our past mistakes to define our current standing with Him. Hebrews 8:12 echoes this truth: "For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." This divine forgetfulness is a deliberate choice by God to treat the repentant as if their transgressions never occurred, offering a fresh start and wiping the slate clean.

As Christ followers, this reminds us that no matter how many times we fail or stumble, God's mercy is always available to restore us. When we sin, we don't have to dwell on the past or let guilt and shame define our present; instead, we can turn to God, seek His forgiveness, and receive His amazing forgetfulness.

Oh, how we need to grasp the magnitude of this truth – that when someone repents and comes to Jesus Christ by faith, all of their past and present sins are truly erased. The freedom that comes with being "remembered no more" inspires gratitude, confidence, and a deep sense of reconciliation with God.

May the reality of God's forgetfulness permeate your life, motivating you to turn from your sinful ways and experience the transformative power of His grace.

September 8 -- "From Twig to Cedar"

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 17 

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Isn't it amazing how God can take something small and fragile, like a tiny twig, and turn it into something strong and beautiful, like a cedar tree? That's exactly what He does with us! As a skilled gardener, God carefully plants us in the perfect environment to cause us to grow from tiny newborn “twigs” in our walk with Him into mature and strong “cedars” - pillars of the faith. Even when life feels like a wild storm, God is in control, shaping us into His masterpiece.

In Ezekiel 17, we find a profound allegory where an eagle takes a young twig from a cedar tree and plants it in a fertile field where it grows into a mighty cedar. This symbolizes the Lord’s nurturing care for His people, even when circumstances seem dire or chaotic.

Just as the Lord directed the eagle to plant the seed in good soil, He orchestrates our lives for a divine purpose. Our challenges and trials may seem overwhelming, but God is at work, ensuring that every circumstance contributes to the growth of our faith.

Now, let’s talk about pride. It’s like a weed that can choke out our spiritual growth. But God loves to lift up the humble heart. In verse 24, God's sovereignty is vividly portrayed through two types of trees: the high tree and the low tree. The high tree represents the proud and powerful, those who exalt themselves and trust in their own strength. Conversely, the low tree depicts the humble and meek, those planted by God and who rely on Him rather than their own achievements. God declares that He will bring down the high tree (the proud and arrogant) and lift up the low tree (the humble and meek).

The lesson is clear: grow where God plants you – in humility and total dependence upon Him. Our true strength lies not in self-exaltation, but in humble dependence on our Heavenly Father. Let us be like the twig planted by God, ever growing into His divine “cedar.” 

As a vine planted by the river that sends its roots deep into the water, may the Lord plant you near the sustaining water of His Word and Holy Spirit.  May you grow where He plants you and humbly bear fruit, not for your own glory, but to the praise of the One who nourishes and sustains us. 

September 7 -- "Intentional Remembrance"

 Today's Reading: Ezekiel 16:30-63

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Do you remember the passion and excitement you felt when you first fell in love with the Lord? Remembering that passion and devotion of our early faith journey is crucial to maintaining a vibrant relationship with God.

The concept of "days of your youth" in Ezekiel 16 refers to the early stages of Israel's covenant with God, when they were spiritually young and fervently devoted to their relationship with Him. This period was marked by a deep sense of passion, enthusiasm, and commitment.

This spiritual youth is not just about chronological age but rather a mindset or attitude characterized by the following: genuine surrender, eagerness to learn, joyfulness in worship, fervent love for God, and a desire to obey His Laws.

Sadly over time, the Israelites moved away from the passion, devotion, and intimacy they once experienced during their early days as a nation. This was caused by several factors such as disobedience, idolatry, materialism, division, neglect of worship, and forgetfulness of His mercies. Tragically, they experienced a severe case of “spiritual amnesia” by not remembering how things used to be.

As you and I move further away from the early days of our walk with Christ, we too can become complacent or forgetful of the passion and devotion that once characterized our relationship with Him. We may begin to take Him for granted or lose sight of the fellowship we once enjoyed with Him. This is where the call to intentional remembrance becomes so crucial.

Take time right now to reflect on the "days of your youth"—recall those moments of genuine surrender, eagerness to learn, joyfulness in worship, boldness to share His love with the world, and fervent love for God. By doing so you can rekindle the fire of devotion that once burned brightly but may have dwindled. In this moment, renew your commitment to God, deepen your intimacy with Him, and commit to staying true to His will for your life.

When you renew your love for God, you will sense once again the joy, peace, hope, gratitude, excitement, vibrancy, and freedom that come only from Him.

September 6 -- "Lavish Love Betrayed"

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 16:1-29 

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Have you ever felt the heartbreak of betrayal? If so, then you may have felt the heartache our loving God felt when He was betrayed. In today’s passage, God uses a powerful allegory to illustrate Israel's betrayal of His lavish love. Despite His tender care and abundant blessings, Israel turned away from Him, embracing idolatry and unfaithfulness. This passage reminds us of God's incredible love and the heartbreak He endures when we turn away from Him.

Ezekiel 16 paints a vivid picture of God's relationship with Israel. He found her abandoned and helpless. Then, with deep and lavish love, He began to nurture her, and shower her with beauty and splendor. Despite His tender care and abundant blessings, Israel chose to turn away from Him, embracing idolatry and unfaithfulness. This story serves as a powerful reminder that we can also betray God's love when we let the allure of the world capture our hearts.

Remembering God's unconditional love and the heartbreak of betrayal, we're called to examine our own hearts, return to our first love, and recommit to walking faithfully with Him. Reflect on the ways God has lavished His love upon you. Think about the times He has rescued, provided, and showered your life with blessings. Are there areas in your life where you have turned away from His love, pursuing things that do not honor Him? This passage calls us to examine our hearts and return to our first love, remembering that God's love is unwavering and His arms are always open.

Let today be the day you recommit to walking faithfully with God. Cast aside anything that has taken His rightful place in your heart.

May the Lord grant you a deep awareness of His lavish love, filling your heart with gratitude and drawing you closer to Him. As you turn to Him, may His grace renew your spirit, may you shine forth His splendor from your life.

September 5 -- "None Saved But Themselves"

 Today's Reading: Ezekiel 14 and 15

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Your faith cannot save others. Nor can their faith save you. Today’s verse teaches us the importance of individual responsibility and personal faith in obtaining salvation. Even righteous individuals like Noah, Daniel, and Job could not save others from judgment.

Noah's story serves as an example of how his righteousness allowed him to build the ark, saving himself, his family, and the animals from the flood. Noah was commanded by God to build the ark, which required a personal decision to obey and trust in God's plan. However, each person had to make their own faith-choice about whether to enter the ark and be saved. Noah’s faith could not save others. His righteousness did not offer a universal protection but provided an opportunity for those who, by faith, chose to follow God's plan.

Similarly, Daniel's righteous living in Babylon and influence on the king could not save others from the consequences of their own choices. Daniel remained committed to his faith despite being surrounded by idolatry and persecution in Babylon. This required him to make daily choices to prioritize his relationship with God over worldly influences. His integrity and devotion to God were personal commitments that impacted those around him but did not grant blanket salvation to those who chose not to believe.

Job's story, though one of restoration and faith, also highlights the individual nature of salvation. Job endured immense suffering but remained strong in his faith, demonstrating the importance of personal commitment and perseverance in difficult times. Despite his admirable faith, Job could not secure the salvation of his friends or family solely through his own faith or righteousness.

This emphasis on personal faith highlights that each person must take responsibility for their own relationship with God. We cannot rely on the faith or righteousness of another to secure our salvation, nor can we assume that our own faith will automatically save those around us.

May you, like Noah, Daniel, and Job, be strengthened in your personal faith, trusting in God's will and guidance as you walk the path to salvation. And may your life be a shining example of the transforming power of faith, inspiring others to seek and embrace God’s free gift of salvation for themselves.