November 6

Ezekiel 14:12-16:41, Hebrews 7:18-28, Psalm 106:1-12, Proverbs 27:4-6 

 

Prayer: Lord, as we read Your inspired Word written here in Scripture, we ask that You speak to us. Please allow our story to intersect with Your greater Story of new life and redemption. Whatever our needs, whatever our concerns, we pray that our hearts will be open to receive both Your truth and Your encouragement to us. 

 

Read: Ezekiel is clear that God’s judgment and accountability are sure. God is just. God is holy. God does not want His people to continue in destructive ways hurting themselves nor those around them. The writer gives two powerful metaphors. The first is the grapevine, which if it bears fruit is of good use. When the branches do not stay connected to its life source then it dies. When it does, like the people of Jerusalem, it is not good even for burning as it burns too quickly and is of little to no use at all. God is displeased with the people in regards to their disobedience of Jerusalem. The second image is that of a person who has been pursued with love and compassion, cleaned up and preserved like a bride for her husband. Yet, she prostitutes herself with so many gods, worshiping them and refusing to be obedient to the husband who has redeemed her. You too, would be upset if someone disrespected your devotion and love, would you not? 

 

Edify: Though judgment is pronounced against rebellious Jerusalem (not as a city but as a people), grace is pronounced through the ‘great high priest” Jesus Christ. The contrast is that fallible priests would offer continual sacrifices for the sins of the people on a regular basis. Jesus has made a once for all sacrifice for our sins. This sacrifice covered “at one moment” the sins of the world past, present, and future. Because Jesus has risen from the dead, and mortal priests die, Jesus is constantly interceding on our behalf. 

 

Practice: How practical Proverbs can be with three leadership lessons which are also powerful discipleship practices:

1.  “4 Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.” So let's check our anger in before God so its cruelty doesn’t hurt us and those we love. 
2.  “5 An open rebuke is better than hidden love!” How true that your words, said in love, might help someone from making an unwise decision, to consider redirection in their life. Now we should not get excited about sharing a rebuke or giving honest input. But it is often needed in certain seasons of our lives. 
3.  “6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” Again, we find the need for compassionate truth telling versus relationships where people tell us only what we want to hear. If we know someone cares, really cares, we will receive it more readily. If we really care, we will follow through with honesty coupled with love. 

November 5

Ezekiel 12:1-14:11, Hebrews 7:1-17, Psalm 105:37-45, Proverbs 27:3

Pray: There were so many people who claimed to be speaking on behalf of the Lord, but were simply telling people what they wanted to hear to gain popularity. In the time of exile, in this way, it is much like our day filled with social and 24-hour news media. Discern through prayer the voices that you are giving the most weight in your life and whether they are pleasing to God.

Read: Within the chaos, chatter, confusion and turmoil in the time of Ezekiel and the exile; take note of the mention all the way back to Abraham in both the New Testament and Psalm reading. What does this communicate about God’s ultimate plan that is bigger than the exile?

Edify: The author of Hebrews elevates the mystery and esteem of the King of Salem, Melchizedek, who also serves the role of a priest to Abraham. This means that Melchizedek is superior to Abraham, as Abraham tithed and received blessing from him. The mystery is that he was superior to Abraham from which the lineage would begin the priestly order through Aaron. Further, Melchizedek has no lineage, meaning he is eternal and superior to the lineage of Aaron. Melchizedek is an important, although mysterious, figure because he is a sign and symbol of the coming king and high priest prophesied in Psalm 110. This high priest and king is Jesus who has ended the old system of sacrifice with His own sacrifice on behalf of all humanity. As William Barclay says, Jesus inaugurates a priesthood of peace, righteousness, royalty, on His own merit (without lineage), and eternal with no beginning or end. Jesus has ended the ritual and sat down at the right hand of the Father. It is finished!

Practice: Fear is gone and sin is conquered through Christ. Your priest, and now you, have direct access to God. How does that change the way you live? Are you depending upon ritual? Are you living like a victim?  Depend on your eternal and superior high priest who has made a way of forgiveness and communion with God forever!

November 4

Ezekiel 10:1-11:25, Hebrews 6:1-20, Psalm 105:16-36, Proverbs 27:1-2

Pray: What’s your greatest hope? Hope is essential to faith, for faith is essentially a confident hope in things not yet seen. When God speaks, it is as good as God acting because God is faithful and His word never returns void. Begin in prayer by naming your hope that springs up from God’s word.

Read: Look for the undercurrent of hope throughout the Old and New Testament. What has God done? What has God said He will do?

Edify: Amidst all the looks into the spiritual world as well as a lot of doom and gloom in Ezekiel’s day; God begins to make promises of the people’s return to their homeland as well as their repentance for idolatry and rebellion. This “will” happen. And when this happens, God will do heart renovation, give them His Spirit in a new way, and they will no longer be rebellious. It’s so beautiful that God is revealing 600 years before Christ His plan to fulfill His ultimate promise that runs as a thread until Revelation that “they will truly be my people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 11:20). Hebrews tells us that Jesus fulfills the promise to Abraham, and this furthers our confidence in God’s promises because it is impossible for God to lie. This is why we have a confident hope as an “anchor for our souls” (Hebrews 6:19).

Practice: We are to follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises through faith and endurance (Hebrews 6:12). In which area of your life do you need hope to increase your endurance? Share your need to endure with a trusted friend who will watch over you in love, encourage you, help you set goals, and hold you accountable. 

November 3

Ezekiel 7:1-9:11, Hebrews 5:1-14, Psalm 105:1-15, Proverbs 26:28 

Pray: Begin by thanking the Lord for His greatness. A greater thankfulness emerges from a greater comprehension of your need for the Lord to be great in your life. Thank Him!

Read: Have the same posture as the Psalmist as you approach His word. “Search for the Lord and his strength; continually seek him” (Psalm 105:4). Come to His word hungry and ready to eat on solid food.

Edify: Notice that the author of Hebrews expects maturation and progression in walking out our faith. Are you still being fed milk or are you actively feeding yourself solid food? Are you passively remaining “spiritually dull” or eagerly looking to learn and share the faith that you received in Christ Jesus? It is through actively being engaged in “training” that maturation comes. It is through actively teaching others about the Lord and utilizing the skill of recognizing the differences in right and wrong that are the marks of maturity. 

Practice: The engine of Christ Church is the Holy Spirit’s work of “developing fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.” Are you being developed or are you stuck at the same level of spiritual maturity that you have been for last 12 months, 12 years, or more? What step do you need to take to grow in both knowledge and practice in your faith? Write that step down and resolve to take action during this month.

November 2

Ezekiel 3:16-6:14, Hebrews 4:1-16, Psalm 104:24-35, Proverbs 26:27

Pray: The Psalmist celebrates that it is the breath of God that gives life and also renews His creation. The breath of God placed a soul into the man He had created in the dirt and so the breath of God can renew that soul that He gave life to. Get quiet and ask God to breath renewal into your life and soul.

Read: Acknowledge and press through how difficult the reading from Ezekiel is today. Then contrast the coming devastation of Babylon with the hope of the “promised rest” in the New Testament reading.

Edify: It’s easy to see how oppressive Sabbath laws had become in New Testament times and to “throw out the baby with the bathwater.” As Jesus says in Mark 2, the Sabbath was made as a gift for man and not for man to slave and serve the Sabbath. God wants us to enter into His delight and rest, first seen in the seventh day when God rested. In all of the war, and working for survival, and striving; God invites us into His redeeming of time and to rest. And the deepest and fullest rest we can find is accepting the work of our High Priest Jesus by faith and entering into the rest of knowing that we are friends of God. The Gospel of Jesus unlocks the rest that God has prepared for us since the beginning, so our hearts can finally be at rest.

Practice: Would you describe your thought life, your schedule, your emotional health, and your relationships as “at rest”? If not, what fear, insecurities, or unbelief is holding your heart back from entering into God’s rest? Ask God to reveal your restlessness. Then take one tangible act of faith this week and take a day of Sabbath with nothing scheduled on the calendar except that which you know is life giving to your soul. Trust Him with your time and believe that He’ll redeem the other 6 days.

November 1

Ezekiel 1:1-3:15, Hebrews 3:1-19, Psalm 104:1-23, Proverbs 26:24-26

Pray: Pray to have an experience with the Lord much like how Ezekiel is about to describe. Wesley summarizes the account by saying, “He felt the power of God opening his eyes to see visions, opening his ear to hear the voice, and his heart to receive both.” Ask God to open your eyes, ears, and heart to receive all that He has for you today.

Read: Ezekiel was originally a priest in God’s house in Jerusalem before receiving the call to the office of a prophet. As you read, notice how Ezekiel’s role as priest, new assignment as prophet, and his audience are a taste of what is to come in the great High Priest, Jesus Christ.

Edify: Many times God reveals Himself and with it comes a burden for people. Ezekiel had an incredible encounter but yet left “in bitterness and turmoil” (Ezekiel 3:14). This is comparable to what Jesus must have been feeling in Gethsemane. But praise the Lord that His “hold on me (Ezekiel) was strong.” Did you know that when you are fulfilling God’s call that there will be many times when you are discouraged by the rebellious hearts you’re called to reach out to? Did you know that when you feel weak and perhaps even ready to give up, that the Lord has a hold on you? Hebrews urges us to take care of what we are able to take care of, such as “watch our own hearts,” “warn others close to us,” and “stay faithful to the end.” Then, we can only take courage in that we have a great High Priest that goes before God on our behalf.

Practice: Are you able to articulate the “who” God has called you to and the “what” God has called you to do? Write down your burdens, your most impactful experience in mission and ministry, and how you have seen the Lord’s hold on you. 

October 31

Lamentations 4:1-5:22, Hebrews 2:1-18, Psalm 103:1-22, Proverbs 26:23

Pray: This is a huge day in which it is an honor to be alive. Today marks the 507th anniversary of the Reformation begun by Martin Luther putting his life on the line by nailing his “95 Theses” on the door of a Catholic Church. The wonderful news that by God’s grace we can be saved through faith in Christ alone! This is the beautiful, unhindered Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Read: Put on a “reformation lens” as you read today. How do you see the character of God in alignment through the life and work of Jesus? How do you see the call to put your faith in Jesus Christ and experience salvation through the forgiveness of sins?

Edify: Hear the yearning in the Old Testament for God to restore the lives of His people in Jerusalem. Then, behold the Son of God, Jesus the man, who God has put everything under His authority. Hebrews proclaims that through Jesus’ suffering and death, “God understands your pain!”. Hebrews proclaims that there is now nothing to fear, not even death itself, because, “God is able!” Jesus was able to forgive sins and overcome death once and for all. This invokes PRAISE in the Psalm because there is so much to praise God for! “He (Jesus) redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies” (Psalm 103:4).

Practice: Praise is the fuel for faith. Praise stokes the fires of faith into a mighty flame in your soul. How often do you praise God in your everyday, out-and-about life? What is it that fuels your soul as you walk out your salvation with joy and trembling? Try praising Jesus as you go about your day today through a song, verbal prayer of thanksgiving, or through sharing your faith with a neighbor.