The Wisdom of the Proverbs:
Proverbs 26:24-26 (NLT)
People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you.
They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.
While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.
The Encouragement of the Psalms:
Psalm 104:31 (NLT)
May the glory of the LORD continue forever! The LORD takes pleasure in all he has made!
The Hope of the Old Testament:
Ezekiel 1:1 (NLT)
On July 31 of my thirtieth year, while I was with the Judean exiles beside the Kebar River in Babylon, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
Ezekiel 1:28 (NLT)
All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the LORD looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.
Ezekiel 2:1-2 (NLT)
“Stand up, son of man,” said the voice. “I want to speak with you.”
The Spirit came into me as he spoke, and he set me on my feet. I listened carefully to his words.
The Gospel Message:
Hebrews 2:1-4 (NLT)
So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished.
So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?
And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.
Observation:
One of the things I observed while reading the passage from Ezekiel is the importance of being in the presence of God. It is impossible to do the work of God without being connected to the power of God.
“Power in the Christian life depends upon our connection with the source of power.”
- Nelson Bell
Key Word Commentary: Thoughts on Every Chapter of the Bible.
To be pleasing to God and to fulfill the purpose for which we were born, we must know God and live in His presence. Ezekiel’s ministry shows us the importance of listening to God and obeying God.
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that You will draw Your people closer to You and that we would seek the truth, and abide in You.
—
1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
10 And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/
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https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry
