Author: Matt

The Glory of Holiness!

The man with the bronze face continues in today’s reading, giving Ezekiel a tour of the new Temple. This vision that Ezekiel has is quite elaborate. What becomes apparent is the way the design of this new Temple emphasizes holiness, keeping a greater degree of separation between holy and unholy than Solomon’s Temple did. In fact, the following verse stands out, highlighting this emphasis. And this is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness! The entire top of the mountain where the Temple is built is holy. Yes, this is the basic law of the Temple. (Ezekiel 43:12, NLT)

This reminded me of what the New Testament says about our bodies as believers: They are the temples of the living God. …for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:16–18, KJV)

What, then, does it mean to be holy? Simply put, it means consecrated or set apart for a sacred use. As Christians, we are to be set apart from sin and worldliness for our Father’s sacred use and glory. …dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1, KJV) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:20, KJV) 

What a joyous calling in Jesus Christ to be the temple of the living God! We are set apart for His use and glory amidst a world of darkness, delusion, and despair. Let us shine as lights, radiating the light of God’s glorious gospel, calling others to come out of darkness and into His marvelous light!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Ezekiel 42-43.

Dimensions & Details!

The last section of Ezekiel reminds me of sections in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. These last eight chapters contain architectural and sacrificial details—not the most exciting reading! However, today’s reading is like a guided tour of a brand-new temple. A man with a bronze face is the tour guide, and with a rod and string in hand, he shows Ezekiel the size of this new temple. It is significantly bigger than Solomon’s. 

This vision happens about twenty-five years into Ezekiel and the other exiles’ captivity, fourteen years after the fall of Jerusalem. This is certainly long enough to start wondering if God has forgotten them. They have many more years of captivity yet ahead—seventy years in totality. What a reminder to these exiles that this vision gives that God is not done with them, that He has a plan, and that He has been thinking about them! Though today’s reading was full of dimensions and details, it reminded me of Jeremiah’s verse in a letter to the exiles. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

Have you ever had hard seasons in life? Perhaps you have been laboring away under a heaviness of some kind? Ever wonder if God has forgotten about you even though you know that is impossible? You may wonder if there is a future and, if there is, what that looks like. Notice what God says—The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. (Psalm 33:11, ESV) Even in moments like this, God’s plan for our lives is still full of expansion, dimension, and detail—to give us a future and hope. Let us rejoice in this, our God!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Ezekiel 40-41.

Overcoming Opposition!

Today’s reading in Ezekiel reveals a coming worldwide opposition to God’s people. We also see their ultimate victory by divine and supernatural intervention. This opposition will grow so strong that God will intervene and destroy Israel’s enemies. “In this way, I will demonstrate my glory to the nations. Everyone will see the punishment I have inflicted on them and the power of my fist when I strike. (Ezekiel 39:21, NLT)

While much of today’s reading is yet for a future time, there is a similar spirit of opposition, or anti-Christ, that is alive and well even now against Christians. Why are Christians persecuted across the globe? Why is the name of Jesus Christ so offensive? Why do the wicked attack the church, the body of Christ? Why do the ungodly rage against righteousness, God, and His people? Because the god of this world, the Devil, is in a losing battle against God. Because sin and iniquity abound in the hearts of men. Because the Gospel is foolish and offensive to the unbelieving. 

Yet, despite this opposition, we have assured victory! …despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. (Romans 8:37, NLT) Additionally, there is coming a day when all shall confess that Jesus is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10–11). In light of these things, I am reminded of what Paul said: being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (Colossians 1:11–13, ESV)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Ezekiel 38-39.

All of Life for Christ!

Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations. (Ezekiel 36:22, NLT) According to the vision Ezekiel received, God is about to do something for His name’s sake, not for the sake of His people. The House of Israel doesn’t deserve what God is about to do.

By today’s standards, this approach would offend many people. In a day when self-love, self-pity, self-esteem, and ultimately a self-centric view of life are god, this stings. The truth is, life is not about us; it is about God and glorifying God. It is to be God-centric. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, ESV) And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (2 Corinthians 5:15, ESV)

What a reminder to keep our eyes off ourselves and keep them on God and others. What a reminder to be careful about our motives: are we doing what we do for ourselves and how others perceive us, or are we caught up in glorifying God with our being? For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Ezekiel 35-37.

A Spectacle To The Unbelieving!

Ezekiel has been warning God’s people for 32 chapters. The results are dismal! No one has responded! There are no salvations and baptisms to report to headquarters. By today’s standards, pragmatism would have changed the method and the message at this point in search of results. But God comforts Ezekiel by reminding him that the results are not for him to manufacture. His job is to remain faithful to the message that God has given him. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. (Ezekiel 33:9, ESV) Ezekiel finds comfort in obeying the Lord despite the results.

So, why has there been no repentance? God allows us and Ezekiel to peer into the hearts and private moments of the people. In Ezekiel 33:30-33, God reveals that the people talk about Ezekiel in their homes, whisper to one another about him, and even come and sit before him to hear what he has to say. But their actions are not sincere. They have no intention of following God’s Word. Their interest is purely self-serving. They find it entertaining, like a trip to the theater.

This situation reminds me of what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:9, where he and the Apostles were made a spectacle to the world. In another place, the writer of Hebrews recalls how his audience was publicly ridiculed in Hebrews 10:33. Christians have a message for the world, and we are not to alter it for the sake of results. Even though the world may view our message as foolishness and us as ridiculous, we are to remain obedient and faithful, living out the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus endured the ridicule of sinners on the cross, in Him, we can find strength to be obedient in the face of such indifference and opposition. (Hebrews 12:1–3)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Ezekiel 32-34.