Read the Bible in a Year (08SEP19)

DAILY REMINDER – Today, September 8’s Bible reading is Ezekiel 28-30.

NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, September 9’s Bible reading is Ezekiel 31-33. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD.

EZEKIEL MOMENT – (08SEP19) “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.” But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god’” (Ezekiel 28:2). The Lord was going to allow the king of Tyre to come to ruin. Tyre was known for it sea trading and great wealth. Nations from around the world imported and exported goods from her shores. Unfortunately, Tyre had become prideful because of her great wealth and fortunes. The king thought that he was wise in his own eyes and pride filled his heart. He thought that He was a god, but the Lord was about to let him know that he was nothing more than a mere mortal. Within this same text, we see that the author writes about Lucifer and how the king of Tyre and Lucifer’s actions in heaven are similar in nature. Lucifer was a beautifully adorned guardian cherub who allowed pride to set in his heart. The Prophet Isaiah described him as wanting to set his throne above God and be like the Most High. The Bible says: “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit” (Isaiah 14:12-15). Both Isaiah and Ezekiel tell of Lucifer’s downfall due to his arrogance, narcissism, and sense of self-entitlement. Just as the king of Tyre and his kingdom was to be overthrown and reduced to ashes, Lucifer aka Satan was kicked out of Heaven and will have a fiery fate as well.

The Lord loves for us to have hearts of a servant. There are too many people who set themselves up as kings and queens on earth instead of having hearts of humility. No one is to place a man above God nor appoint themselves as such. Even when Jesus came, He did not equate himself as being equal to the Father but came as a submissive servant and son. The Bible says: “ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus was elevated by the Father because He humbled Himself to death literally; therefore, how much more should we be if our Creator became less for us to have more? Something to ponder….

QUESTION OF THE DAY - (08SEP19) “All the people of Egypt will know that I am the Lord, for to Israel you were just a staff made of reeds.  When Israel leaned on you, you splintered and broke and stabbed her in the armpit. When she put her weight on you, you collapsed, and her legs gave way” (Ezekiel 29:6-7). Israel had relied on Egypt as an ally against Babylon. They counted on her to help support them when attacked. This, however, was in defiance against God who had told Israel to submit to the king of Babylon. Egypt was not trustworthy and when Israel needed help, no help was available. The Lord told Ezekiel that He was going to allow Babylon to destroy Egypt and plunder her wealth. Babylon was an agent acting on behalf of the Lord to punish the nations, so Egypt’s plunder would be payment to her. Israel had to learn the lesson that God was the only One they could count on to save them. Their reliance was to be in no one else but Him; therefore, in order for this lesson to be taught, they had to see their ally brought down to her knees. Only then would they recognize that the Lord was God.

Sometimes we make the mistake of trusting in politicians, clergy, jobs, bank accounts, and other people and/or things over God. We act as Israel did in wanting a king over God and trusting in allies instead of the One who allowed for them to be in power. The Lord, however, does not want us to place our trust in anyone but Him. The Bible says: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” (Psalms 118:8). The Lord is our Refuge in whom we are to trust. He knows the end from the beginning, and He created all mankind. Whereas man will let you down, the Lord can always be counted on to keep His word. The Bible says: “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). Man will fail you even when they do not want to do so, but the Lord is forever constant. Will you place your complete trust in God? Something to ponder….