King
James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning
Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Thursday, September 03, 2015
Chapters: Ezekiel 21-22 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-246.html
Message Title: Warnings And God's Mercy
Hello My Friend,
Mercy, to pardon or release a guilty person from severe punishment. We've all seen mercy before, I can recall a time when I was caught speeding on the highway and escaped a huge ticket, it was by the mercy of that police officer that he let me go with a warning. It is by the mercy of God that this world is still here, think about it, with all the wickedness and corruption going on in every nation, it truly is by the mercy of God that it is not consumed already. God's mercy endures, but there does come a time when the warnings are over and judgment comes. “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” - Romans 11:21,22.
The natural branches, these are the Jews who reject Christ. Many Jews believe that because they are Jewish and God calls them His people that they are exempt from judgment of their sins. This is false, Jew or Gentile, we must all face the severe punishment of death and hell for our sins. God's mercy releases us from the punishment when we believe in and receive Christ as our Savior. His mercy does not mean that we will not have to endure some suffering for continually living in sin. As the captives in Babylon still question God about His judgment upon them, God continues to address this, reminding them that it was their own sin that brought on the judgment. He also warns them of more judgment to come, and He wants all to know it was his decree against a wicked and rebellious nation.
“Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished: It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree. And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer. Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh. Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.” - Ezekiel 21:9-13.
God does not want to place harsh judgments upon anyone, yes, He is merciful, very merciful, and gives many warnings of judgment before it comes. Make mirth, to make merry. God does not nor wants anyone to be joyful about this, people are dying and going to hell, this is not something to rejoice over. Yes, we all know someone that quite frankly is so wicked that we can't imagine them being anywhere, but hell, but we are not the judge, God is. To contemn, to despise the rod or judgments of God. We can disagree with God all we want, but His judgments stand. He is a just and merciful God, we have all done things, even if we have gotten away with them, that we should have been punished for, but thanks to His mercy we are not. “For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” - James 2:11-13.
Mercy rejoiceth against judgment, we need to rejoice over the mercy of God for the judgments we have escaped because we heeded the warnings before it was too late. Not a day goes by that I do not remember where I was before I lived my life with Christ in it and the well deserved punishment that I escaped by doing so. Through Ezekiel, God tells Israel and all flesh that the time will come when the wicked price will be destroyed making way for a the King. “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand. And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.” - Ezekiel 21:24-27.
Overturn, to ruin, to destroy. Right now, God allows the wicked prince Satan to rule the world, one day, when Jesus returns his time will come to an end, and Jesus will take His rightful place on the throne. God will destroy Satan and all that is evil, taking all evil into the lake of fire with him, and sadly, including those who are not saved. There will be many, many souls including unbelievers and those who did not heed the warning to receive Christ before they died among them. It is truly heartbreaking to think of the loved ones who do not know Christ that are burning in hell right now. That's why it is important that we tell everyone we know, and even strangers of the judgment that they face. God is merciful to give the warnings, but once die it's over, He can't save a soul that didn't receive His Son.
“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:” - 2 Peter 2:4,5,9.
Reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punishment, the unjust are those who never heed the warning of the judgment coming and continue living a wicked lifestyle. The “City of bloods”, was the name given to Jerusalem for her sin, the crimes she committed were charged, and included murder, idolatry, dishonoring parents, oppression, extortion, profaning the sabbath and everything holy, covetousness, lewdness, and adultery. Through Ezekiel, God gives the sentence for their crimes.
“Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself. Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries. In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD. Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee. Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.” - Ezekiel 22:3,4,12-14.
Reproach, to be charged with contempt. God has charged them with contempt and exposes them to the wicked. Sin in secret, no matter how much we think we can hide it, comes out, and everyone will know about it. Why do you think so many church leaders are exposed in the news of their sins? God is not doing it to shame Himself, He's exposing these hypocrites for who they really are. Reckless living in secret apart from God, while knowing God is the reason things get so far out of hand with God's people. Let me tell you, if you did not know by now, the flesh stinks, it always craves things that are sinful, and if we take our eyes off God even for a second, we will give in to our temptations. This is why God went to such great lengths to save our souls, He knows it's our only hope for salvation. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” - Romans 5:8-10.
Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for the great sacrifice that You made in sending Your Son to be the payment for us to be saved from judgment. You gave Your one and only begotten Son to die for our sins so that we would not spend eternity in hell. It is only by Your mercy that we are not consumed for our sins on the spot, it is only by Your grace that we are not given the punishment we deserve when we believe in and receive Your Son as our Savior. Lord, As our relationship with You grows, give us Your love, mercy, grace, and strength to remain faithful to You, no matter who or what tries to get between us. Help us to keep our eyes on You and Your Word so we walk in Your Spirit and not our flesh. Give us Your power, wisdom, and guidance, to fear You, and never let us forget just how much You love us and want only the best for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Date: Thursday, September 03, 2015
Chapters: Ezekiel 21-22 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-246.html
Message Title: Warnings And God's Mercy
Hello My Friend,
Mercy, to pardon or release a guilty person from severe punishment. We've all seen mercy before, I can recall a time when I was caught speeding on the highway and escaped a huge ticket, it was by the mercy of that police officer that he let me go with a warning. It is by the mercy of God that this world is still here, think about it, with all the wickedness and corruption going on in every nation, it truly is by the mercy of God that it is not consumed already. God's mercy endures, but there does come a time when the warnings are over and judgment comes. “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” - Romans 11:21,22.
The natural branches, these are the Jews who reject Christ. Many Jews believe that because they are Jewish and God calls them His people that they are exempt from judgment of their sins. This is false, Jew or Gentile, we must all face the severe punishment of death and hell for our sins. God's mercy releases us from the punishment when we believe in and receive Christ as our Savior. His mercy does not mean that we will not have to endure some suffering for continually living in sin. As the captives in Babylon still question God about His judgment upon them, God continues to address this, reminding them that it was their own sin that brought on the judgment. He also warns them of more judgment to come, and He wants all to know it was his decree against a wicked and rebellious nation.
“Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished: It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree. And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer. Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh. Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.” - Ezekiel 21:9-13.
God does not want to place harsh judgments upon anyone, yes, He is merciful, very merciful, and gives many warnings of judgment before it comes. Make mirth, to make merry. God does not nor wants anyone to be joyful about this, people are dying and going to hell, this is not something to rejoice over. Yes, we all know someone that quite frankly is so wicked that we can't imagine them being anywhere, but hell, but we are not the judge, God is. To contemn, to despise the rod or judgments of God. We can disagree with God all we want, but His judgments stand. He is a just and merciful God, we have all done things, even if we have gotten away with them, that we should have been punished for, but thanks to His mercy we are not. “For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” - James 2:11-13.
Mercy rejoiceth against judgment, we need to rejoice over the mercy of God for the judgments we have escaped because we heeded the warnings before it was too late. Not a day goes by that I do not remember where I was before I lived my life with Christ in it and the well deserved punishment that I escaped by doing so. Through Ezekiel, God tells Israel and all flesh that the time will come when the wicked price will be destroyed making way for a the King. “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand. And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.” - Ezekiel 21:24-27.
Overturn, to ruin, to destroy. Right now, God allows the wicked prince Satan to rule the world, one day, when Jesus returns his time will come to an end, and Jesus will take His rightful place on the throne. God will destroy Satan and all that is evil, taking all evil into the lake of fire with him, and sadly, including those who are not saved. There will be many, many souls including unbelievers and those who did not heed the warning to receive Christ before they died among them. It is truly heartbreaking to think of the loved ones who do not know Christ that are burning in hell right now. That's why it is important that we tell everyone we know, and even strangers of the judgment that they face. God is merciful to give the warnings, but once die it's over, He can't save a soul that didn't receive His Son.
“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:” - 2 Peter 2:4,5,9.
Reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punishment, the unjust are those who never heed the warning of the judgment coming and continue living a wicked lifestyle. The “City of bloods”, was the name given to Jerusalem for her sin, the crimes she committed were charged, and included murder, idolatry, dishonoring parents, oppression, extortion, profaning the sabbath and everything holy, covetousness, lewdness, and adultery. Through Ezekiel, God gives the sentence for their crimes.
“Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself. Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries. In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD. Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee. Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.” - Ezekiel 22:3,4,12-14.
Reproach, to be charged with contempt. God has charged them with contempt and exposes them to the wicked. Sin in secret, no matter how much we think we can hide it, comes out, and everyone will know about it. Why do you think so many church leaders are exposed in the news of their sins? God is not doing it to shame Himself, He's exposing these hypocrites for who they really are. Reckless living in secret apart from God, while knowing God is the reason things get so far out of hand with God's people. Let me tell you, if you did not know by now, the flesh stinks, it always craves things that are sinful, and if we take our eyes off God even for a second, we will give in to our temptations. This is why God went to such great lengths to save our souls, He knows it's our only hope for salvation. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” - Romans 5:8-10.
Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for the great sacrifice that You made in sending Your Son to be the payment for us to be saved from judgment. You gave Your one and only begotten Son to die for our sins so that we would not spend eternity in hell. It is only by Your mercy that we are not consumed for our sins on the spot, it is only by Your grace that we are not given the punishment we deserve when we believe in and receive Your Son as our Savior. Lord, As our relationship with You grows, give us Your love, mercy, grace, and strength to remain faithful to You, no matter who or what tries to get between us. Help us to keep our eyes on You and Your Word so we walk in Your Spirit and not our flesh. Give us Your power, wisdom, and guidance, to fear You, and never let us forget just how much You love us and want only the best for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Subscribe To Our Devotions: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Do You Know For Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://godsprice.com/
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