With My Own Eyes

I am pretty intrigued by the detailed description in Ezekiel of a Temple that has not yet been built–but one day will be.  It is yet another example of how God is in complete control and holds the future in the palm of His hand.  What He ordains will come to pass, including the construction of Ezekiel’s Temple.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Ezekiel 40:28-41:26; James 4:1-17; Psalm 118:19-29; Proverbs 28:3-5.

When I was a kid, my heroes were athletes (Johnny Bench, Dominique Wilkins, Chris Spielman, to name a few).  Now my heroes are these…

Hebrews 11:32-38 (NIV)
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, [33] who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, [34] quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. [35] Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. [36] Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. [37] They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated– [38] the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Ezekiel 29:1-30:26; Hebrews 11:32-12:13; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 27:17.

Psalm 111:10 (NIV)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

We know more “stuff” than ever before.  But, when it comes to wisdom – knowing how to live, we are increasingly ignorant.  Our world cries out for wisdom.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Ezekiel 27:1-28:26; Hebrews 11:17-31;
Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 27:15-16.

Proverbs 27:12

New Living Translation (NLT)

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Ezekiel 21:1-22:31; Hebrews 10:1-17; Psalm 108:1-13; Proverbs 27:12.

Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

God has blessed me far beyond anything that I deserve. I have no room to complain about anything. Even the hard things in life I know God will use for my good. I am thankful.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Ezekiel 20:1-49; Hebrews 9:11-28; Psalm 107:1-43; Proverbs 27:11.

Hebrews 9:3 (NIV)
Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,

Hebrews 10:19 (NIV)
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,

No barriers.  The blood of Jesus has removed them all.  We have the ability to do what would have been unthinkable to the Jews prior to Jesus:  enter into the very presence of God.  This means that we are as close to God as we choose to be.  It is on us.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Ezekiel 18:1-19:14; Hebrews 9:1-10;
Psalm 106:32-48; Proverbs 27:10.

Proverbs 27:7 (NIV)
He who is full loathes honey,
but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

Canned peas.  Is there anything worse?  I threw some in the garbage last night because I don’t like the way they taste.  To someone starving, however, those peas would have tasted like cake.  I am convicted about my selfish, wasteful perspective that comes from my full belly.  I can do better.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Ezekiel 16:43b-17:24; Hebrews 8:1-13; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 27:7-9.

Yes. And the reason for His great jealousy is because of His great love. The Bible describes our relationship with God like that of a marriage. Sadly, some of you know firsthand the heart wrenching jealousy that comes when spouses are unfaithful. In relation to God, we are that unfaithful spouse that has chased after lesser lovers. It is only natural, right, and good that the God who loves us so much is jealous, not of us, but for us. Our reading today in the book of Ezekiel corresponds beautifully with one of today’s Proverbs:

Proverbs 27:4 (NIV)
Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?

In Ezekiel, God pours out His heart regarding the unfaithfulness of Israel. He uses graphic language to describe their prostitution. They have stirred His jealousy. Too many times I have also stirred His jealousy by pursuing lesser gods. I am thankful for God’s great jealousy for me, because it is evidence of His great love for me – a love so great that He sent His Son to die in my place.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Ezekiel 14:12-16:43a; Hebrews 7:18-28; Psalm 106:1-12; Proverbs 27:4-6.

¹⁴ For he knows how weak we are;
    he remembers we are only dust.

That encouraged me today.  Sometimes I think God expects me to be some kind of super hero.  He knows, and I know, that isn’t happening.  I am weak.  I fail miserably.  I am ashamed.  But God knows how weak I am.  I am only dust.  That takes a lot of pressure off me.  But the even better news is that when I am weak, then He is strong.  He is the super hero and He wants to exhibit His power through me.  The only thing I must do is surrender.  

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Lamentations 4:1-5:22; Hebrews 2:1-18; Psalm 103:1-22; Proverbs 26:2.

Titus 1:9 (NIV)
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

I am passionate about doctrine.  Many people are not.  They say something like, “Doctrine can be so divisive.  Can’t we just all love Jesus and exercise a simple faith in Him?”  I appreciate the sentiment, but the methodology is flawed.  You see, Jesus said that He Himself is the Truth.  To not care about doctrinal Truth is to not care about Jesus.  Further, Satan is the father of lies.  To stray from the truth is to wander into Satan’s domain.  Doctrinal truth matters.  It is the truth of the Gospel that saves.  May we humbly embrace the importance of doctrine together.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Jeremiah 49:23-50:46; Titus 1:1-16; Psalm 97:1-98:9; Proverbs 26:13-16.