August 15
Jeremiah 37:11-38:28; Ezekiel 1:1-3:15
When we drive, many of us will drive above the speed limit, but try to do so as not to set off a radar detector or get flagged down by a police officer. That is typical of legalism. We follow the law, not because of any love for it, but we seek not to get in trouble, often seeking loopholes. Those who follow God in this manner, miss much. If our questions are how much must I read, how much must I pray, how much do I have to give, how often must I go to church, then we are missing the point. If our question is what do we have to do, what is the bare minimum, then we are in a religious, legal relationship with the God of the universe. Our relationship with God should be that of a son living with his father, in his house. We want to do things with him, We want to be like him, not see what things we can get away with. We want to seek how close we can get to the object of our love. This is relationship, not religion. I desire to be God's son, not His employee. How is this possible? We read in Hebrews 3:14, "For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,". Christ in us. The Holy Spirit indwelt in us. We seek His guidance, not what the world dictates to us.
We are in our own respective mission fields. It is only natural that we want to be liked, appreciated, respected. But, as His ambassadors, this is not what we should seek. We need to be guided by what He directs us, rather than what the world dictates. Our desire should be to be like Him, not the world, and we know what the world did to Jesus. We read God's marching orders to Ezekiel. Prior to this, he is given a vision of the throne room in Ezekiel 1, to which we read Ezekiel's response in the final sentence of this chapter, "So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking." In awe of God, we now read his commission in 2:3-5, " And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them."
The contrast is striking, we can rebel or we can lovingly follow. We read in Ezekiel 2:8, "But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” Do not look for loopholes. We need to approach Him, and our desire must be to honor and follow Him. Ezekiel's task would be difficult, as was all of the prophets. Why should we think that our road should be easy. God's Word is His Word. Jesus said in Luke 9:26, " If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels." May we boldly seek God and His desires, rather than those words which will gain our own popularity. It's not what we have to do, it is what we are privileged to do.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: