Ezekiel 3:16-4:17; Jeremiah 27-28:17; Jeremiah 51:59-64
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~
In Ezekiel chapter 3 today God appoints Ezekiel as a watchman for Israel! This might sound pretty good at first… but there are some serious ramifications for Ezekiel to follow through with what God asks Ezekiel to do. My thoughts based on this chapter – Are there times in our lives where God asks us to do something that may sound good at first, but then turns out to be harder than we initially thought it would be? With potential some serious ramifications? If so, do you quit? Or do you forge ahead with what God asks of you? Will you stay within God’s will for your life – even when the going gets tough? If God calls you to be a watch-person, will you be obedient to the call?
Jeremiah Chapter 27 seems to be a chapter of “obedience” to me. Jeremiah is called once again to be obedient to preach – and to wear an ox yoke this time! And the people of Judah are called to be obedient to the Babylonian conquest. Let it happen. Be exiled. And eventually you will return. Fight this call to obedience – and you will die. I know obedience is not a very popular term in our culture today. But, I do think it is still so relevant to our relationship with God. In what area of your life is God calling you to be obedient? Will you be obedient? Below is a portrait by Guy Rowe of Jeremiah’s obedience of wearing a yoke from today’s readings:
Jeremiah chapter 28 has a good lesson for us in the false prophet Hananiah. I think we need to be careful when we use words like, “God says”, or “this is God’s will”, or “I know God will do x, y, and z.” Hananiah was using words like this… and he may have really thought this to be true… but he was wrong big-time. And paid a big price. I’m thinking in our lives it might be better to say, “God-willing, this hopefully will happen…” or “I believe God is leading me this way. I pray I’m right” – and then be prepared to adjust if we realize it wasn’t quite the right way. I’m sure most of us are seeking God’s will for our lives. We maybe should be cautious on making declarative statements on precisely what God’s will is for our lives? Let us instead simply try to follow God’s lead in our life each and every day and trust that his lead will take us where he wants us to go.
Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of Steven Curtis Chapman’s song, “Do Everything:”
Are you doing everything for God? Click here for Everything!
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
