209 Tuesday, July 28, 2009

209 Ezekiel 45 – 48; Acts 21.1 – 21.26

Details. In Ezekiel 40-48 we have been delving into details. Why is Ezekiel spending so much time on these details? Better yet, why is God who is speaking through Ezekiel, spending so much time on these details? The answer is sin! The people, the teachers, the priests, and the kings had all forgotten that the details were about how to worship Yahweh. This portion of Scripture is about the future worship of the Lord and the details have to be covered. Sometimes we say that the devil is in the details. We must understand that the Lord is also in the details. Do not lose the big picture that God was calling His people back to worship Him in the correct way. There one devotional thought I would like to share with you and it comes in the first sentence of chapter 45 where it say,
Ezekiel 45:1 (MSG)
1 "When you divide up the inheritance of the land, you must set aside part of the land as sacred space for God: approximately seven miles long by six miles wide, all of it holy ground.
God commands His people to set aside sacred space when they return to the land. For us who live in the Spirit age this does not have the same meaning as it would for them in that day. Today the believer is to live a sacred life wherever their feet carry them. Everyday is a holy day. With all that being said I think in practical terms we all need a sacred space. Carve out some time that is sacred to the Lord. Make it an appointment so you will save that time to refuel and to reconnect with your Savior.
Paul if you remember is headed to Jerusalem. There are people who think he ought not to go because the rumor is that he will not be safe in Jerusalem. Listen to how Paul responds,
Acts 21:13 (MSG)
13 But Paul wouldn't budge: "Why all this hysteria? Why do you insist on making a scene and making it even harder for me? You're looking at this backwards. The issue in Jerusalem is not what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the Master Jesus does through my obedience. Can't you see that?"
This is a valuable lesson for all of us to learn. Paul is saying it is not about him, but about the Lord and His work in and through him. Make no mistake there were times Paul did escape out the back door or was lowered over a wall in order to get out of dodge. Paul knew that he had to go to Jerusalem and therefore that his obedience to God was more important than his safety. In the instances that Paul escaped his work was done. The work that God had for Paul in Jerusalem was not done. The work in Jerusalem had to do with God’s grace. Many Jews had come to faith but they were also taking up the Law of Moses with even more zeal. Paul had been leading gentiles to the Lord and telling them that they did not have to follow the law. The Jews in Jerusalem were not happy about what they were hearing. Paul knew that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was on the line. It is by grace you have been saved through faith in Christ and that is the end of the story. You will find that in most cases that people want to add to what God has done in and through His son Christ Jesus. Do you no find that odd? It is as if God just didn’t know how to restore the people that He had created and we have to come along side of Him and give our two cents worth. Have a grace filled day!