Ezekiel 35-36; Psalm 116; Proverbs 28:6-7
People just don’t get it. Our God is real. He’s not like an idol. He’s not like a fairy tale. He’s not like Santa Claus. He’s real, and He’s alive today.
But people talk today the way that the Edomites did. They refuse to believe in God, and they say all kinds of things to discredit Him as a result. They trash talk God.
One day they’ll find out that the God they talked trash about is real. Alive. And deadly. And He can hear every word they say.
You boasted against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it. – Ezekiel 35:13
Don’t assume God isn’t listening. Don’t assume God doesn’t care. Don’t assume God is dead, or too impotent to do anything.
Father, may we honor You forever.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: How to Get Through Anything
The message covered Philippians 4:10-13, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. Paul received help from the Philippians—help that he attributed to Christ. And he warmly encouraged the Philippians to experience his contentment as he let them in on his secret: Jesus Christ is enough! Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
When Sheep Go Baaaaaaaad
Ezekiel 33-34; Psalm 115; Proverbs 28:3-5
Without the Bible, I probably wouldn’t think much about what sheep can do to hurt each other. After all, I’m not a farmer. But apparently, just like with humans, stronger ones can use their strength to push aside weaker sheep and take all the best grass and water for themselves.
As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet? – Ezekiel 34:17-19
God cares about the weak sheep, the sheep who don’t get the first pick of the food, or the second, but have to wait until after the whole rest of the herd has eaten before getting a bite. God cares. He goes on:
Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken. – Ezekiel 34:20-24
God sees the weak, and he sees how the strong treat them. And God cares. God will judge between them and save the weak from the strong. This lesson from the lives of sheep should be hitting home with us people. If God notices unfair practices between sheep, how much more does he notice injustice on our level? We don’t care about the weak very often, but if we did, we could find ways to help them. May God give us hearts of compassion!
Just to make it clear that God’s focus is not the sheep:
You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD. – Ezekiel 34:31
Follow Him.
Father, guide us and teach us how to support the weak rather than harming them. Give us hearts that care about the less fortunate, hearts that pay attention to them even when those around us ignore them.
Without the Bible, I probably wouldn’t think much about what sheep can do to hurt each other. After all, I’m not a farmer. But apparently, just like with humans, stronger ones can use their strength to push aside weaker sheep and take all the best grass and water for themselves.
As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet? – Ezekiel 34:17-19
God cares about the weak sheep, the sheep who don’t get the first pick of the food, or the second, but have to wait until after the whole rest of the herd has eaten before getting a bite. God cares. He goes on:
Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken. – Ezekiel 34:20-24
God sees the weak, and he sees how the strong treat them. And God cares. God will judge between them and save the weak from the strong. This lesson from the lives of sheep should be hitting home with us people. If God notices unfair practices between sheep, how much more does he notice injustice on our level? We don’t care about the weak very often, but if we did, we could find ways to help them. May God give us hearts of compassion!
Just to make it clear that God’s focus is not the sheep:
You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD. – Ezekiel 34:31
Follow Him.
Father, guide us and teach us how to support the weak rather than harming them. Give us hearts that care about the less fortunate, hearts that pay attention to them even when those around us ignore them.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Terrorists Terrified
Ezekiel 31-32; Psalm 113 & 114; Proverbs 28:2
Terrorists.
The very word brings nightmares to our minds, calamities to our memories and dread to our hearts. But terrorists are mere men. Even a whole terror-working army of men is accountable to our God:
Assyria is there with her whole army; she is surrounded by the graves of all her slain, all who have fallen by the sword. Their graves are in the depths of the pit and her army lies around her grave. All who had spread terror in the land of the living are slain, fallen by the sword. – Ezekiel 32:22-23
Father, may we remember that even terrorists are mere men and not let them alternate the course of our lives. May we stay faithful to You. May we never fear men more than You, and may we remember that our only ultimate hope of lasting life and peace is found in Your Son Jesus Christ. Although we fear You, may our hope in You remind us that You are good and trustworthy, that we never need to fear men, and that even the men we fear need You. May we go about our work of telling people Your good news. No matter who they are.
Terrorists.
The very word brings nightmares to our minds, calamities to our memories and dread to our hearts. But terrorists are mere men. Even a whole terror-working army of men is accountable to our God:
Assyria is there with her whole army; she is surrounded by the graves of all her slain, all who have fallen by the sword. Their graves are in the depths of the pit and her army lies around her grave. All who had spread terror in the land of the living are slain, fallen by the sword. – Ezekiel 32:22-23
Father, may we remember that even terrorists are mere men and not let them alternate the course of our lives. May we stay faithful to You. May we never fear men more than You, and may we remember that our only ultimate hope of lasting life and peace is found in Your Son Jesus Christ. Although we fear You, may our hope in You remind us that You are good and trustworthy, that we never need to fear men, and that even the men we fear need You. May we go about our work of telling people Your good news. No matter who they are.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
What's It Gonna Take?
Ezekiel 29-30; Psalm 112; Proverbs 28:1
I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD. – Ezekiel 30:26
“Then they will know that I am the LORD.” When? What will it take for them to recognize that the LORD is God?
“I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.” – Ezekiel 30:26
“…when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt.” – Ezekiel 30:25
“So I will inflict punishment on Egypt.” – Ezekiel 30:19
“…when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are crushed.” – Ezekiel 30:8
Why does it take so much for us to pay attention to the LORD our God?
Father, forgive us. Lead all people to know You and to voluntarily submit to You, before You have to take such drastic measures!
I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD. – Ezekiel 30:26
“Then they will know that I am the LORD.” When? What will it take for them to recognize that the LORD is God?
“I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.” – Ezekiel 30:26
“…when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt.” – Ezekiel 30:25
“So I will inflict punishment on Egypt.” – Ezekiel 30:19
“…when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are crushed.” – Ezekiel 30:8
Why does it take so much for us to pay attention to the LORD our God?
Father, forgive us. Lead all people to know You and to voluntarily submit to You, before You have to take such drastic measures!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Sorry I Missed A Day
Yesterday’s reading was Ezekiel 24-26; Psalm 110; and Proverbs 27:21-22.
Today’s is Ezekiel 27-28; Psalm 111; and Proverbs 27:23-27.
Today’s is Ezekiel 27-28; Psalm 111; and Proverbs 27:23-27.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Making Them an Example
Ezekiel 23; Psalm 109; Proverbs 27:18-20
Some people are role models. Some are not. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t be examples.
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Bring a mob against them and give them over to terror and plunder. The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords; they will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses.
So I will put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you. – Ezekiel 23:46-48
These verses were speaking of Samaria and Jerusalem (Ezek. 23:4), two cities whose people should have been faithful to God. But they were unfaithful. God describes them just like unfaithful wives—adulteresses. And their punishment is the same as what Israelite adulteresses experienced (not that adulteresses’ children would usually be killed—in this case, since the adulteresses are cities, the “sons and daughters” are involved in the spiritual adultery of the cities). Why?
“That all women (i.e., other cities, nations, etc.) may take warning and not imitate you.”
God doesn’t like to be cheated on. Let’s take our relationship with Him seriously.
Father, thank You for allowing us to have a relationship with You. Forgive us for ever wanting out of the relationship, for ever wanting to have experiences outside of our relationship with You. We need You to be involved in every aspect of our lives. Take away that part of our hearts that yearns to be free from You. Such freedom leads to sin. Such freedom leads to unfaithfulness. Such freedom leads to death. We need You. Teach us to love You. May we learn from the examples of Samaria and Jerusalem.
Some people are role models. Some are not. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t be examples.
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Bring a mob against them and give them over to terror and plunder. The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords; they will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses.
So I will put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you. – Ezekiel 23:46-48
These verses were speaking of Samaria and Jerusalem (Ezek. 23:4), two cities whose people should have been faithful to God. But they were unfaithful. God describes them just like unfaithful wives—adulteresses. And their punishment is the same as what Israelite adulteresses experienced (not that adulteresses’ children would usually be killed—in this case, since the adulteresses are cities, the “sons and daughters” are involved in the spiritual adultery of the cities). Why?
“That all women (i.e., other cities, nations, etc.) may take warning and not imitate you.”
God doesn’t like to be cheated on. Let’s take our relationship with Him seriously.
Father, thank You for allowing us to have a relationship with You. Forgive us for ever wanting out of the relationship, for ever wanting to have experiences outside of our relationship with You. We need You to be involved in every aspect of our lives. Take away that part of our hearts that yearns to be free from You. Such freedom leads to sin. Such freedom leads to unfaithfulness. Such freedom leads to death. We need You. Teach us to love You. May we learn from the examples of Samaria and Jerusalem.
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