The Judge is at the Door - Ezekiel 20-21 and James 5
Most of us do not like the idea of going to court to be judged for committing a crime. It is a scary situation, because we do not know what the sentence of the judge will be. However, the truth is that God is our Judge, and He is standing before us to judge us every day. Many times, He renders His judgment on the everyday things we do in a very low key way, but there are times when He hands down a huge decision against our sin that has serious consequences. Sometimes, He acts "for His name's sake" like Ezekiel says. He renders the decision so all will see His power and integrity. At other times, He strictly enforces His laws and brings us to justice with a swift blow of His hand. Prophets were the agents of the Judge to proclaim His Word and His impending judgment. They were the ones to call the people back to righteousness and to remind them that God was watching. They had a hard job, because most of us do not want to think about the Judge being there before us all of the time, therefore, we do not listen to the warnings. We should listen, just like Israel should have listened, because His judgments are sure.
It is unusual to hear James say the same thing. He told the believers to live as if the Judge was at the door. They were to live in the constant realization that God was there to punish the rich for their injustices and to defend the poor. They were to live in the knowledge that Jesus was coming as the ultimate Judge, and He would make everything right. Therefore, they should speak plainly yes or no. They should pray for those in need knowing He would hear and answer. Finally, they were exhorted to act like the prophets to help turn others from their sin and back to the Lord, before the judgment time came. We are not prophets, but we can see the Judge at the door, and we can warn those who have forgotten Jesus is watching. That is one of the most important things we can do for our fellow believers.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 22-23 and I Peter 1.
It is unusual to hear James say the same thing. He told the believers to live as if the Judge was at the door. They were to live in the constant realization that God was there to punish the rich for their injustices and to defend the poor. They were to live in the knowledge that Jesus was coming as the ultimate Judge, and He would make everything right. Therefore, they should speak plainly yes or no. They should pray for those in need knowing He would hear and answer. Finally, they were exhorted to act like the prophets to help turn others from their sin and back to the Lord, before the judgment time came. We are not prophets, but we can see the Judge at the door, and we can warn those who have forgotten Jesus is watching. That is one of the most important things we can do for our fellow believers.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 22-23 and I Peter 1.