Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 40-42
Devotional Thought:
In these chapters we have God revealing to Ezekiel His plan for the new temple. It was Ezekiel’s responsibility to pay close attention and convey these exact plans to the exiles in Babylon. You cannot read these chapters without realizing that our God is a God of education, excellence, and exactness. God wants us to know what He is like and what He demands from His children. The whole bible is a revelation of the character of Christ and God’s ultimate plan for the world. Just as every part of the temple had a purpose, God has a special purpose and plan for every person who trusts Him as their personal Savior. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of good and not evil, to give you an expected end.” God has good plans for us! It is such a tragedy that the devil gets us to doubt what God has said or revealed, and always follows the creation of doubt with an alternative to God’s revealed commands. Satan started this in the garden and continued it until today. 2 Corinthians 2:11 is true, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us, we are not ignorant of his devices.” We do know how he works and that his ultimate plans for us is destruction. The bible is guidelines for how we Christians are to live, thinks, and behave. What lies has the devil been telling you that you are entertaining? What clear biblical truths is that old dragon been challenging in your mind and heart? The lie that seems to be derailing so many Christians today is the short sightedness and temporal focus of our generation. Fewer people seem to be living in light of eternity and so many are enamored with the here and now. “Get all I can and can all I get, and sit on the lid” seems to be the motto of so many in life. God has been just as exact in His teaching us about the building of His church as He was about the building of the temple. It is sad that so many churches today have become man centered, entertainment minded, and ego driven. God’s design for the church is that we be God focused, worship minded, and service driven. The devil always presents an alternative that is the antithesis of what God designed and planned. Oh that we would ask God for wisdom and discernment to expose the lies of the devil. How important for us to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” We must strive to know Him and the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His suffering, and ultimately be conformed to the purpose of His death. (Philippians 3:10) We must “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus… [who] made Himself of no reputation and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man.” (Philippians 2:5-7) Will you be as careful about the details God has revealed to you as Ezekiel was regarding the details revealed to him?
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to embrace the revelation of your plan and purpose for me.
• Thank you Lord for the truth of your love, grace, and mercy toward me. I am so grateful that you have thoughts that are good regarding me.
• Lord, please grant me wisdom to expose the lies and deception of the devil as He seeks to derail me spiritually.