November 19, 2006 - Ezekiel 11-13 and James 1
God does not bless a person who has a negative or fatalistic attitude. In both of these passages we see the reason that God does not honor a person with this type of an attitude. I pray that each of us will consider this important truth as we read this part of God's Word.
In Ezekiel 11 we read that God showed Ezekiel 25 men, who were leading Israel, who had negative attitudes. They were telling people that the situation was hopeless. The city of Jerusalem would be destroyed and everyone would be killed. This was never true. God always had a plan to bring redemption out of this bad situation. That is how God works. He had pledged to go with them, and to restore the ones who trusted Him. (v.16-20) We must not give up on God. He will lead us out of our troubles, if we trust Him. Chapter 12 continues this theme, because there were people who said that the vision would fail. (v.22) God told them no. The vision would be fulfilled. (v.23) If God says something to us, it will happen no matter how bleak things appear. We must not have a fatalistic attitude. Finally, in chapter 13 God deals with the problem of false prophets and teachers, again. The trouble here is that the false words lead people to despair. If they had a good attitude, the false teaching takes away their hope in God. When people hear someone say that this is God's will, and then, it doesn't happen, it destroys their trust in God. It causes them to be negative about God. We must not allow that to happen to us.
James 1 explains it well. We must not despair when we have trials. We must have joy, knowing that God has a plan, and He will give us patience by trusting Him though the trial. That patience strengthens us to become mature. Then, if we need wisdom, we must ask Him, and He will give it to us. We do not need to be in the dark or to follow false information. God will give us light. However, we have to listen to Him. We have to watch for him, and we must do what He says. We can't just be a hearer, and not a doer. God's will is to live out His truth, not just to believe it in our hearts. We would all do good to read James 1 several times, so that it would sink into our souls.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 14-15 and James 2.
In Ezekiel 11 we read that God showed Ezekiel 25 men, who were leading Israel, who had negative attitudes. They were telling people that the situation was hopeless. The city of Jerusalem would be destroyed and everyone would be killed. This was never true. God always had a plan to bring redemption out of this bad situation. That is how God works. He had pledged to go with them, and to restore the ones who trusted Him. (v.16-20) We must not give up on God. He will lead us out of our troubles, if we trust Him. Chapter 12 continues this theme, because there were people who said that the vision would fail. (v.22) God told them no. The vision would be fulfilled. (v.23) If God says something to us, it will happen no matter how bleak things appear. We must not have a fatalistic attitude. Finally, in chapter 13 God deals with the problem of false prophets and teachers, again. The trouble here is that the false words lead people to despair. If they had a good attitude, the false teaching takes away their hope in God. When people hear someone say that this is God's will, and then, it doesn't happen, it destroys their trust in God. It causes them to be negative about God. We must not allow that to happen to us.
James 1 explains it well. We must not despair when we have trials. We must have joy, knowing that God has a plan, and He will give us patience by trusting Him though the trial. That patience strengthens us to become mature. Then, if we need wisdom, we must ask Him, and He will give it to us. We do not need to be in the dark or to follow false information. God will give us light. However, we have to listen to Him. We have to watch for him, and we must do what He says. We can't just be a hearer, and not a doer. God's will is to live out His truth, not just to believe it in our hearts. We would all do good to read James 1 several times, so that it would sink into our souls.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 14-15 and James 2.