Expect God’s Presence All The Time – Ezekiel 44

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Mark Shields

This day will be amazing because God can be involved in every activity, every conversation, every problem, and even every thought. My Pastor, Steve Ramsdell said in a sermon message that God speaks in various ways – visions, dreams, life’s circumstances, and even through other people. Believe it or not and most of all, God speaks through the Bible.

The glory of God was a visible experience in Ezekiel 44. Is this Jesus in the appearance of a man who is leading Ezekiel on this tour? During Ezekiel’s time on earth, around 500 BC, the temple was the most efficient way to meet God but many were excluded because of the restrictions placed on this privilege of standing before Him. Because of Jesus, no one is excluded from this privilege.

We can let God lead us by praying without ceasing for help in our finances, interests, relationships, schedules, and troubles. We can expect God’s presence all the time.

Here is a piano piece link you can click to help you reflect: In The Garden: Norm Hastings, Piano. Think about your day and what to pray for. Spend some time talking to God in prayer. Put away the cares and concerns and noise of the day, listening for the Holy Spirit to give a plan of action as you make the most of this day with God.

Related articles
Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Ezekiel 44-46 Questions for Reflection

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Mark Shields

Over the last few posts, Ezekiel has been given a vision of how the Temple will look. I learned just how important it is to set aside time to be in a holy space to pray daily. Time spent with God is effective time. More treasure is found and gold is mined during time spent with God than will ever be taken from the earth.

After Ezekiel gets a visionary tour through the Temple of God, he then is given a vision of the glory of God. The prophet Ezekiel is to tell people about what he sees just like God wants us to tell others about His plan. If we go to work for God, He will work on us. If we go to work on His plans, His plans will work on us. Whatever good things we build, end up building character in us.

I then learned about how they had to follow the law in order to be acceptable to God. Today it’s much easier because we no longer have to offer atoning sacrifices. We don’t have to jump through hoops with thousands of dollars worth of livestock or days of waiting to be approved by God. Jesus Christ of Nazareth changed everything. Because of His death and resurrection, we have immediate, constant, and forever acceptance.

Now, I will continue my journey through Ezekiel 44-46. The reading plan below with questions to provide fuel for my thoughts will be used. Join me over the next few post to help find out who is leading Ezekiel on these visionary tours, the instructions for a positive future, and what we can expect if we follow God’s plan for us.

Ezekiel 44
Passage Lookup

Does God’s Glory seem commonplace to you? Who is the man leading Ezekiel on the tour? What are the restrictions for the privilege of standing before God (verses 15-31)? To what extent are you careful about morally “legitimate” things which destroy the ultimate purpose? Why? 

Ezekiel 45
Passage Lookup

What is the place of the temple in that national life? Why are weights and measures now standardized (See verses Lev 19:35-36; Deut. 25:13-16)?

Ezekiel 46
Passage Lookup

Note the orderliness required in verses 1-10. How does disorder affect your spirit of worship? Why are safeguards necessary for someone in power (See verses 16-18 with 45:9)? To what extent are you respecting the bounds of confidence placed in you without stealing reputation or using it for personal advantage? Why? 

__________________________________________

I will use the reading plan above as a tool for daily Bible study. My prayer is that the readings, questions above, and the experiences I go through this week will provide some good thoughts to share over the next few posts. I’m praying that the lessons will help not only me but all who read so we can apply them in our activities and conversation as we spend each day with God.

Resources and Supplementary Helps Used in Posts
First United Methodist Waco Podcast
Christ Notes
Adeney, Carol. This Morning with God. Downer Grove Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1978

Related articles
Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Acceptance – Ezekiel 43:13-27

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Mark Shields

We don’t have to jump through hoops to be approved by God. Jesus Christ of Nazareth changed everything; simply believing in His death and resurrection, gives immediate, constant, and forever acceptance.

Before God’s gift of His Son, there was a procedure as explained in Ezekiel 43:13-27 that everyone had to go through to be acceptable to God. It involved sacrificing burnt offerings and sprinkling blood upon the altar; a young bull would be given to the priests, a goat on the second day, and then for seven days in a row a male goat would be provided for a sin offering along with a young bull and a ram from the flock.

Today it’s much easier because we no longer have to offer atoning sacrifices. We don’t have to jump through hoops and spend large sums of money on livestock or spend days of waiting to be approved by God. Here’s a video to up lift as you spend this day with God: My Savior My God – Aaron Shust.

 

 
This day with God, I’m praying to have the courage to get honest and call sin by its true name; knowing that this provides the stage for cleansing in Jesus Christ and new freedom.

Related articles
Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Lover’s Leap

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Mark Shields

If you go to a movie or read a book, romance is depicted in stories of courtships and love affairs or in historical settings of heroic deeds or pageantry. In a colorful and scenic world full of fanciful stories and daydreams. I once heard about a legend similar to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. An Indian maiden named Wah-Wah-Tee from an enemy tribe of the Apaches and her Apache brave lover knew that their love would be forbidden. They were determined to be together and tried to run off together, only to be intercepted by her angry father and brothers. The tale ends with Wah-Wah-Tee kissing her lover before they both jump off a cliff and plummet to their death. Today, people around Waco Texas call the cliff just north of downtown at the east end of the Bosque River “Lover’s Leap” because of this legend.

The world does not give a good guide to relationship but we can look to the greatest servant of all, Jesus, for a perfect model to follow. A relationship fueled by “serve-you” love is a lasting love that begins when a couple start viewing their relationship as a chance to meet each other’s needs. A couple should admit their needs, ask God for help and serve each other in God’s strength. For any leader of a family or group of people, take inspiration from the following video: Lead Me – Sanctus Real.

 

 
Pray for God to lead you to make good decisions and for the strength to lead those you love in the right direction.

John Ed Mathison in his book “Treasures of a Transformed Life” Wrote about a guy in a romantic mood. He said to his wife, “If I had a thousand arms, they’d all be around you. And she said, “Quit complaining about what you don’t have, and use what you do have!” My pastor, Steve Ramsdell pointed out in a sermon one time that God gives us an amazing proposal and invitation to intimacy. From the beginning in Genesis 1:26-28 to the end in Revelation 21:6-7, He understands our needs and wants. The focus is on a relationship and sometimes we need to slow down and smell the roses. Billy Graham was quoted to say the following, “The word romance, according to the dictionary, means, excitement, adventure, and something extremely real. Romance should last a lifetime.

Posted in Special Occasions | 2 Comments

Vision for God’s Plan – Ezekiel 43:1-12

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Mark Shields
English: A. The Temple House B. Altar of Burnt...

Image via Wikipedia

In Ezekiel 43:1-12 Ezekiel gets a visual tour of the temple and then is given a vision of the glory of God. His Spirit entered in the gate facing east and His voice spoke to Ezekiel. God told Him to tell people about the temple so they may understand the plan.

Like the physical temple where the Spirit of God lives in this reading, we each have the Spirit in us when we accept the gift of Christ. We can tell others about this mystery of redeeming love; and all the Scriptures can be opened so more will accept God’s Plan for Us. If you go to work for God, He will go to work on you. If you go to work on His plans, His plans will work on you. Whatever good things we build, end up building character in us.

May the reading of God’s Word and the experiences you have today allow you an opportunity to truly experience a deeper relationship with God through prayer? “This Day with God” devotional is here to open up the Scriptures with ideas that may help apply them. It’s a tool to enhance communication about faith and have an effect on how we learn from each other. It’s about providing the type of freedoms people are interested in.

Encourage, build up, and humbly pray for Spiritual growth in people around you. Each day of our lives, we make deposits in the memory banks of those that look to us for leadership. We need to get across to them that no matter what happens in life, God loves them and that’s what makes this day with Him amazing.

Related articles
Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments