Ezekiel 25, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: GRACE PRESERVES US

Jesus not only did a work for us; he does a work in us. Colossians 1:27 tells us, “The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you.” He commands our hands and feet, requisitions our minds and tongues. As Romans 8:29 declares, “He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son.”

We’ll never be sinless, but we will sin less. And when we do sin, we have this assurance: the grace that saved us also preserves us. We may lose our tempers, our perspective, and our self-control, but we never lose our hope. Scripture promises, “He is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy!”

Ezekiel 25

Acts of Vengeance

God’s Message came to me:

“Son of man, face Ammon and preach against the people: Listen to the Message of God, the Master. This is what God has to say: Because you cheered when my Sanctuary was desecrated and the land of Judah was devastated and the people of Israel were taken into exile, I’m giving you over to the people of the east. They’ll move in and make themselves at home, eating the food right off your tables and drinking your milk. I’ll turn your capital, Rabbah, into pasture for camels and all your villages into corrals for flocks. Then you’ll realize that I am God.

6-7 “God, the Master, says, Because you clapped and cheered, venting all your malicious contempt against the land of Israel, I’ll step in and hand you out as loot—first come, first served. I’ll cross you off the roster of nations. There’ll be nothing left of you. And you’ll realize that I am God.”

8-11 “God, the Master, says: Because Moab said, ‘Look, Judah’s nothing special,’ I’ll lay wide open the flank of Moab by exposing its lovely frontier villages to attack: Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim. I’ll lump Moab in with Ammon and give them to the people of the east for the taking. Ammon won’t be heard from again. I’ll punish Moab severely. And they’ll realize that I am God.”

12-14 “God, the Master, says: Because Edom reacted against the people of Judah in spiteful revenge and was so criminally vengeful against them, therefore I, God, the Master, will oppose Edom and kill the lot of them, people and animals both. I’ll waste it—corpses stretched from Teman to Dedan. I’ll use my people Israel to bring my vengeance down on Edom. My wrath will fuel their action. And they’ll realize it’s my vengeance. Decree of God the Master.”

15-17 “God, the Master, says: Because the Philistines were so spitefully vengeful—all those centuries of stored-up malice!—and did their best to destroy Judah, therefore I, God, the Master, will oppose the Philistines and cut down the Cretans and anybody else left along the seacoast. Huge acts of vengeance, massive punishments! When I bring vengeance, they’ll realize that I am God.”

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion   
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Today's Scripture & Insight:

Hebrews 1:1–9

God’s Final Word: His Son

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

The Son Superior to Angels
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father”[a]?

Or again,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son”[b]?

6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”[c]

7 In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits,
    and his servants flames of fire.”[d]

8 But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
    by anointing you with the oil of joy.”[e]

Insight
In the face of opposition and the temptation to revert back to Judaism, the author of Hebrews writes to Jewish brothers and sisters suffering for their confession of faith in Jesus (10:32–39). Some were tempted to retreat to a temple-centered way of life. The writer, seemingly known to his first readers (13:18–25), warns against the natural inclination to slip back into old ways adhering to rules and regulations rather than living in the spirit and grace of Christ (2:9; 4:14–16). Intimately acquainted with both Jesus and temple worship, this author reasons that all lesser forms of ritual and revelation point beyond themselves to the greater glory of the Son—and ultimate Word of God (1:1–3)—who tasted death for everyone (2:9, 15).

Visit ChristianUniversity.org/NT337 to learn more about the book of Hebrews.

Christmas Awe
Let all God’s angels worship him. Hebrews 1:6

I was in London one night for a meeting. It was pouring rain, and I was late. I rushed through the streets, turned a corner, and then stopped still. Dozens of angels hovered above Regent Street, their giant shimmering wings stretching across the traffic. Made of thousands of pulsing lights, it was the most amazing Christmas display I’d seen. I wasn’t the only one captivated. Hundreds lined the street, gazing up in awe.

Awe is central to the Christmas story. When the angel appeared to Mary explaining she would miraculously conceive (Luke 1:26–38), and to the shepherds announcing Jesus’ birth (2:8–20), each reacted with fear, wonder—and awe. Looking around at that Regent Street crowd, I wondered if we were experiencing in part what those first angelic encounters felt like.

A moment later, I noticed something else. Some of the angels had their arms raised, as if they too were gazing up at something. Like the angelic choir that burst into song at the mention of Jesus (vv. 13–14), it seems angels too can be caught up in awe—as they gaze on Him.

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (Hebrews 1:3). Bright and luminous, Jesus is the focus of every angel’s gaze (v. 6). If an angel-themed Christmas display can stop busy Londoners in their tracks, just imagine the moment when we see Him face-to-face. By:  Sheridan Voysey

Reflect & Pray
When was the last time you felt a sense of awe? How can you rekindle a sense of awe over Jesus this Christmastime?

Father, I worship You. Thank You for the gift of Your awesome Son.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Wrestling Before God

Take up the whole armor of God…praying always… —Ephesians 6:13,18

You must learn to wrestle against the things that hinder your communication with God, and wrestle in prayer for other people; but to wrestle with God in prayer is unscriptural. If you ever do wrestle with God, you will be crippled for the rest of your life. If you grab hold of God and wrestle with Him, as Jacob did, simply because He is working in a way that doesn’t meet with your approval, you force Him to put you out of joint (see Genesis 32:24-25). Don’t become a cripple by wrestling with the ways of God, but be someone who wrestles before God with the things of this world, because “we are more than conquerors through Him…” (Romans 8:37). Wrestling before God makes an impact in His kingdom. If you ask me to pray for you, and I am not complete in Christ, my prayer accomplishes nothing. But if I am complete in Christ, my prayer brings victory all the time. Prayer is effective only when there is completeness— “take up the whole armor of God….”

Always make a distinction between God’s perfect will and His permissive will, which He uses to accomplish His divine purpose for our lives. God’s perfect will is unchangeable. It is with His permissive will, or the various things that He allows into our lives, that we must wrestle before Him. It is our reaction to these things allowed by His permissive will that enables us to come to the point of seeing His perfect will for us. “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God…” (Romans 8:28)— to those who remain true to God’s perfect will— His calling in Christ Jesus. God’s permissive will is the testing He uses to reveal His true sons and daughters. We should not be spineless and automatically say, “Yes, it is the Lord’s will.” We don’t have to fight or wrestle with God, but we must wrestle before God with things. Beware of lazily giving up. Instead, put up a glorious fight and you will find yourself empowered with His strength.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

It is perilously possible to make our conceptions of God like molten lead poured into a specially designed mould, and when it is cold and hard we fling it at the heads of the religious people who don’t agree with us. Disciples Indeed, 388 R

Bible in a Year: Amos 4-6; Revelation 7

A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Pushed to the Edge by Christmas - #8853

I had never heard of centrifugal force when as a boy I went to an amusement park. In fact, I don't know if I could pronounce it. But I did experience it! They had this ride called The Rotor, and you get inside this round chamber and you stand against the wall. This chamber starts to spin faster and faster. Pretty soon it plastered me against that wall. Before long I had no choice where I was going to stand! There was this powerful, invisible force that was pushing me to the outside of that chamber. Well, guess what? That's the centrifugal force that my science teacher told me about years later - the kind that pushes things to the edge.

Now, the ride was kind of exciting, because after you were pushed to the edge the floor dropped out from beneath you and there was no problem. I didn't have to be afraid of falling; I wasn't going anywhere, because uh-huh, centrifugal force forced me to the outside. It literally has tremendous power to push things to the outer edges. You know, Christmas is like that.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Pushed to the Edge by Christmas."

Well, our word for today from the Word of God comes right out of the familiar words of the Christmas Story, Luke 2 - I'll begin reading in verse 6. "While they were there" (that's in Bethlehem) "the time came for the baby to be born. And she gave birth to her first-born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn."

Now, you notice it doesn't say here there was no interest in this baby that was going to be born. It doesn't say there was no concern about the baby being born. It just says there was no room. Jesus wasn't told to go to the manger; he was just sort of pushed there by an already full house. Guess what? That is still happening to our Savior. See, the more complicated life becomes, the more He gets relegated to the leftovers of our schedule. "If I have time, Lord, I'll be with you." It's like centrifugal force: the faster your life is spinning, the more Jesus gets pushed to the edge.

And then on top of that, here comes the Christmas push! You've heard of the Grinch that stole Christmas. How about the crunch that stole Christmas? And maybe you're in the middle of that right now, and the very Savior we should be honoring this season is getting squeezed out by the spin of shopping, and baking, and all our preparations for Christmas, and all the complexities and inconveniences that go with this particular year's Christmas?

Oh, if I had a whistle right now I'd blow it like a coach, "Time out!" Stop the spin long enough to see where we've put our Jesus. In the stable...and that's wrong. It was wrong before the Christmas season; it's more wrong now. His time has got to be non-negotiable in our lives; not to be canceled or compromised by anything. All the other pressures of your life will pass; all those deadlines, all those things that are pushing on you, they're going to pass.

If you got sick today, somehow you know what, they'd get it done by somebody else or decide it wasn't that important to do. But only your relationship with Jesus Christ will last forever. It may take some courage, some discipline, some sacrifice, some hard choices, but Jesus Christ must once again be crowned the King of your schedule. And your time with Him? The non-negotiable of your personal schedule. He's saying, "I want My time with you."

Well, whatever you do, don't push Him to the edge. Don't tell Him, "Oh, I'd love to, but there's no room." That's the King at your door!