R³ Devotional - Day 240

Whew…I would not have wanted to be an Israelite during this time. God is sending word through the prophet  Ezekiel in Chapter 5 to Jerusalem, referencing three equal portions of destruction that He would send. I find it  interesting when he references a small number of hairs “bound into the skirts of your robe.” This tells me that there will be at least some spared from this judgment to come. The remainder of Chapter 5 depicts many nations coming against Israel due to the Lord’s anger against the abomination His people have become.

In Chapter 6, God turns His attention/anger to the idols the Israelites have turned to. The prophet Ezekiel mentions  in this chapter that “He will leave some alive.” This reinforces the implication in Chapter 5 that seems to indicate this action, which is now documented in Chapter 6. Famine, pestilence, and desolation are all indicated against  Israel and its idols.

In Chapter 7 we see the prophet Ezekiel is given the word that the judgement was soon…and end was coming to  Israel and its people. We also note in Chapter 7 that the “worst of the nations” shall come against Israel (recall  Assyria and Babylon as noted in other books depicting the takeover, destruction, and exile of God’s people).

We close in Chapter 8 with the abominations in the Temple. God is giving the prophet Ezekiel visions of different areas of the Temple and the abominations keep getting worse and worse as God reveals different parts of the  Temple. The bottom line in this chapter is that even the chosen priestly lines were not immune from profaning the  Temple of the Lord. This chapter closes by mentioning, “My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity.” God has simply had enough…it’s time for His righteous judgment.

Real Life Principles: God practically did everything to show His chosen people His love and all He asked in return was the respect of His people. Yet, whether leaders or priests, or common people all at some point turned to profaning their Creator. We can’t let our lives turn into disrespectful treatment of our God, who loves us. The things of this world (idols, worldly pleasures, good ole’ shinney objects), all of them act to turn us away from our  God who gave us life and loves us…if we let them. Are we going to slip occasionally, yes. Is He happy when we continuously slip up on the same things over and over without conviction and repentance…no. He knows our hearts and there’s no hiding that from Him.  

Relevant Life Applications: Recognize that He wants us. Recognize why He wants us. Hold His truths and commandments close in our hearts and don’t rebel. When we do slip up…repent…it speaks volumes of where our hearts truly are with Him. This reading was in the Old Testament and against Israel. But God…God sent His only  Son that we should not perish but have everlasting life. Respond to the Gospel and get your life in line with what  God wants you to do. That vastness that sin put between us and God is closed with the blood of Christ if we choose to accept it and live our lives new in Him.  

Being Ready with Life Action Steps: We know what rebellion looks like and what the consequences are if we continually live in it against Him. Judgement. He loves us enough to give us the opportunity to reconnect with  Him through Christ…the only way…don’t wait, choose Him today! If you have already and have strayed, get back on track…repent. Our lives are a series of choices…choices that can keep us on His path or turn us away. Remember in a vast field divided by a fence, there’s God on one side and satan on the other…but Satan owns the fence…we don’t need to be walking close to that fence…that’s what the enemy wants. Get on God’s side and with each day  He blesses us with, stay as far from the fence as possible…there’s a coming judgement for those who remain on the other side (and on the fence) that I would not wish on anyone. Your life, your walk with Christ, your actions,  words, and the fruits of your service should be evident to others to help them recognize there’s something better than living in sin, idolatry, and separation from God. A Gospel sharing opportunity awaits when our walks show  His love!