Father God, I praise and glorify your name ..you are exalted over all the earth! I pray that your words will speak to me and your voice I will hear in the still quiet moments. Let me understand from the very depths of my soul the signs that you send and the "prophets" that you place in my path.
After 4 chapters of doom and gloom for exiled Israelites, God sends a ray of hope through his messenger. God knew, even from the beginning, that they would not listen. Idols and false religions were the way of life and even then, people were too selfish and stubborn to give them up.
How many things do we have in our life that we won't give up? They may seem small and insignificant, but are they really? If God asked you to give up your cell phone, would you? If God was calling you to sell your diamond ring and new car and go to the middle East to spread the gospel, would you? If God spoke to you and asked you to sell everything you have and give it to help build the new church, would you? We can all answer yes, as long as it's something we don't really need or want, but what if it's something that we don't think we can live without? Cell phone comes to mind for most people.. tv, playstations, computers...don't touch them! I can gt rid of my radio (who listens to radio anymore?) , my books, my old car- oh, and I'm not using the ?????? whatever it happens to be- but DON'T TOUCH MY IPHONE!
God doesn't want what we don't want...He wants to know you would give him your best. Don't let your pride get in the way of "giving up" what is required of you, including time. Sorry God, I don't have time to go to the shelter to help, I have to get my nails done on Thursday, and Friday I am meeting my friend for lunch....and of course the weekend is full of sports for the kids. Maybe next week I can find some time. Do you want God's leftovers? Or do you want the best from Him?
I see Ezekiel 1-8 as a warning with a ray of hope thrown in. He warns of the famine, pestilence and death that will come if they do not heed the warning. They are even warned of cannibalism resulting from the famine, but still they do not listen... The hope is in Ezekiel 5:3-4
3 Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.
4 Then
take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn
them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house
of Israel.
Lord, let me be the strands that are kept out, sewn into the garment then thrown into the fire. Let me have such a fire for you that I will be a testimony to those around me, that even the evil ones that surround us will see You in me.
As we get closer to uncertain times, I want to be a witness for Him. So much of my life He has waited patiently for me, but I know that His patience will run out for all of us, for America, for His people.
Praying that we can all give our best to Him, seek Him and Desire a closer walk with Him.
Blessings!
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