November 21, 2006 - Ezekiel 16-17 and James 3
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, it is good for us to consider the multitude of ways that God has blessed us and the ways He is blessing us now. In reading theses chapters, I realized that often we make it hard for God to treat us in a gracious way, because we spurn His blessings and go our own way. That is a travesty! However, it magnifies the goodness of God. He is so patient and kind to us. I pray that we all will be completely thankful to Him.
Ezekiel 16 is a description of how God blessed Israel. He took them from nothing to a beautiful and strong people. Then, they left their marriage to Him and pursued idols. It was not that the idolatrous countries pursued them or paid them anything to leave God. It was their own choosing. How that must have broken the heart of God after all He had done for them. I am afraid the same is true for many believers today, though. He has saved us from our sins. He has given us His Spirit to lead us. He has given us every spiritual blessing. Still, we tend to drift from Him and go our own way. How much better can it get than to be married to Jesus, but we spurn Him for others.
Ezekiel 17 is a parable of two eagles and the vine. In essence, it shows that God wanted to bless Israel and protect them, but they sought refuge from other powerful countries instead of from God. Because of their lack of trust in God, they could not flourish. Instead, they would wither. However, God came back to them to make another covenant with them. He did not forsake them, even though they had left Him. What a merciful God!
James 3 speaks of the tongue and wisdom. God has given us a tongue with which to speak. As believers, we are to use our tongues for Him, but we don't. We use them to curse and to bless. That is a terrible corruption of what God intended. The same is true for wisdom. He gives us His wisdom from above, but we switch to the earthly wisdom of those around us. It is so inferior to God's perfect wisdom. I know it breaks His heart to hear how we talk and to realize how we think. Let's turn back to God, and ask Him to cleanse our speech and renew our minds for His glory.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 18-19 and James 4.
Ezekiel 16 is a description of how God blessed Israel. He took them from nothing to a beautiful and strong people. Then, they left their marriage to Him and pursued idols. It was not that the idolatrous countries pursued them or paid them anything to leave God. It was their own choosing. How that must have broken the heart of God after all He had done for them. I am afraid the same is true for many believers today, though. He has saved us from our sins. He has given us His Spirit to lead us. He has given us every spiritual blessing. Still, we tend to drift from Him and go our own way. How much better can it get than to be married to Jesus, but we spurn Him for others.
Ezekiel 17 is a parable of two eagles and the vine. In essence, it shows that God wanted to bless Israel and protect them, but they sought refuge from other powerful countries instead of from God. Because of their lack of trust in God, they could not flourish. Instead, they would wither. However, God came back to them to make another covenant with them. He did not forsake them, even though they had left Him. What a merciful God!
James 3 speaks of the tongue and wisdom. God has given us a tongue with which to speak. As believers, we are to use our tongues for Him, but we don't. We use them to curse and to bless. That is a terrible corruption of what God intended. The same is true for wisdom. He gives us His wisdom from above, but we switch to the earthly wisdom of those around us. It is so inferior to God's perfect wisdom. I know it breaks His heart to hear how we talk and to realize how we think. Let's turn back to God, and ask Him to cleanse our speech and renew our minds for His glory.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 18-19 and James 4.