Stay The Path

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name...

Verse of the Day: Psalm 119:105

 Your word is a lamp to my feet

    and a light to my path.

Memory verse: Psalm 42:2(New American Bible )

"My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I enter and see the face of God?"

Today's reading: Ezekiel 8-10 Hebrews 13

Stay The Path

I want to remember this day. This is the day we read one of the most sad passages in all the Bible. This is so important-this passage tells of the day the spirit of the Lord left the temple in Jerusalem because of the repeated sins of generations of Jews.

Ezekiel 8:6 He asked me, “Human being, do you see what they are doing, the horribly disgusting practices that the house of Isra’el is committing here, so that I must distance myself from my own sanctuary? But you will see even worse abominations.”

God shows Ezekiel the sin of the people in His House and in chapter 10 leaves the temple:

18 "Now the glory of Adonai left the threshold of the house..."

This is ultimate tragedy.

On this same day, the New Testament reading in our 'read through the Bible in a year' plan gives us this order and promise in God's plan:

Hebrews 13:5 "Keep your lives free from the love of money; and be satisfied with what you have; for God himself has said, “I will never fail you or abandon you.”

6 Therefore, we say with confidence,

“Adonai(God) is my helper; I will not be afraid —

what can a human being do to me?”

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke God’s message to you. Reflect on the results of their way of life, and imitate their trust — 8 Yeshua(Christ Jesus) the Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever."

In Christ, we have the promise that God will never leave us. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit(1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

My 'fear of God'-Deuteronomy 8:6 tells us "to walk in His ways and fear Him"-my fear is being without God. The image of God crossing the threshold of the temple as He left should be a horror to us.

 Why?

Each day we cross our threshold and go out into the world-either conscious of God-or not-honoring God or not-empowered by His Spirit or not. That is 'why'.

If we are not walking as Christ Jesus-(1 John 2:6 ►"Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did');

If we are not walking by the Spirit-(Galatians 5:16 ►"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh"),

We might as well say that Jesus does not matter...this should be a horror to all of us.

Yes, I know this does not sound like a joyful message but I hope it encourages us to walk like Jesus by His Spirit-awake in Him-always conscious of Him-this is His river of life-His path of life.

Psalm 16:11 ►"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

Stay the Path.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Your name is the knowledge of the Path of Life, Your kingdom life.  Forgive me my mindlessness. Fill me with desire for more of You. Lead me away from dishonesty.

Great, great God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen