Another Passover

Focus verses: Ezekiel 9:1-11

God has just shown Ezekiel the idolatry in Jerusalem and all of Israel. An idolatry which expands to include some of the priests of God.

This time it is not the blood of a lamb that saves the children of Israel. It is their grief and lamentation over those detestable things done in the city and even in the temple.

God reads the hearts of people. Our actions may not always live up to our own expectations but a humble and contrite heart He will not ignore or despise.

We live in a land where detestable things are done, even in the name of the Lord. We have, in large part, allowed these behaviors in the name of diversity and tolerance.

This passage shows that tolerance is not in God's vocabulary where worship is concerned. Old men, young men and maidens, women and children - none are exempted from the winnowing blade of the Lord. Idolatry in any form is not to be tolerated.

Father, God,

Help us to discern idolatry in its many forms. Keep us from putting anything ahead of You in our lives. Keep us faithful to Your standards of worship and behavior.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

David's Prophesy

Focus verses: Psalm 14

Reading this psalm it feels like David had a crystal ball into our world today. The fool says in his heart "there is no God."

If there is no God, there is no absolute right or wrong. From this we get situation ethics and tolerance of virtually every perversion in the name of diversity. "It's not right for me, but it may be right for you." What balderdash!

There are no more two kinds of right than there are two kinds of straight line. A thing is right or it isn't. A line is straight or it isn't.

We try God's patience with our waffling about right and wrong. In fact, we've waffled so long that there is no sense of wrong any more. Our society is in complete moral decline. It will take concentrated repentance and prayer to turn this fatal slide around.

But He has promised that if His people repent and pray, He will hear and will heal the land.

Father, God,

Help us to see Your absolutes with clarity. Give us the humility and heart to repent and pray for our nation.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

God's Legal System

Focus verses: Exodus 23:1,2

God is particular about His people. He knows they need a framework within which to live and operate. So He sets out a system of laws and redresses.

Today, however, lets look at the one that says "Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong."

We are swayed, today, too much by vocal minorities and silent majorities. We have crowds of people pushing God's standards aside to do "what feels good." And many of us who know the truth stand silently in the wings, watching the players making bad laws and perverting God's truth.

God loves each sinner. But God still hates the sin that separates that individual from Him. Constant sin, unrepented, can eventually erect an eternal barrier between the sinner and the Lord.

And we stand silent yet in the name of tolerance and diversity. We must be accountable for our silence just as we would be for any other sin.

If My people who are called by My name will turn from their wicked ways and pray and seek My face, then will I hear from heaven and will heal their land. Our land needs healing. We are called to pray and turn from our wicked silence.

Father, God,

Give us the boldness to speak Your truth in all situations. Help us to speak with love to those who are defying Your laws. Grant us favor with those who most need to hear Your truth.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Transgressions

Focus verses: Numbers 15:30,31

Today's readings talk about offerings for sin. God knows that we are fallible and will fall short of His designs for us. But he prescribes a method for bringing us back in to fellowship with Him. At least these readings detail those methods for the children of Israel.

We have a different mode of reconciliation. Jesus Christ. Because of His atoning death on the cross of Calvary, we can come directly to God with our failings, repent directly to Him, and ask His forgiveness.

And we can receive that forgiveness if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Our response to that forgiveness should be a turning from those sins and a renewed mind to follow the precepts of the Lord.

That's the way it should work.

But there is a terrible caveat in today's readings as well. The focus verses say that if someone sins defiantly, he blasphemes God and his guilt remains on him.

We seem to live in a society today where people sin deliberately, wantonly, defiantly. And we remain tolerant of their sins in the name of diversity. We fail to speak out when people defy God, and we act oblivious to the fact that when we remain silent, we are complicit with their sins.

Father, God,

Let us not grieve Your Holy Spirit with sins either of omission or commission. So touch us with Your love that our constant response is obedience to You and love for Your people - a love that speaks the truth of Your salvation.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.