Tag: God’s Glory

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God Will Be Known

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 5-8

Daily Thought

Through the prophet Ezekiel, God is announcing judgment upon the nation Israel, but it did not have to be that way. Israel had a special place in God’s plan for the world: “This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.” (Ezekiel 5:5). Israel was the nation chosen of God to be what Jesus later described as “the light of the world, a city set on a hill” (Matthew 5:14), a nation displaying the goodness and glory of God to all others. “I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). 

“With great privilege comes great responsibility” is a quote attributed to Voltaire, FDR, and Spiderman, but Jesus said it first, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48). Israel had been given much in order that by her conduct the world would know God.

That was one way, but there is another. To a nation that had spurned God’s blessing comes God’s judgment, “Your doom has come to you, O inhabitant of the land. The time has come; the day is near, a day of tumult, and not of joyful shouting on the mountains. Now I will soon pour out my wrath upon you, and spend my anger against you, and judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations” (Ezekiel 7:7-8). The purpose of God remains the same, however. In chapters six and seven of Ezekiel, God speaks to the purpose of his judgment against Israel, that “they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 6:7, 10, 13, 14; 7:4, 9, 27), a theme repeated over sixty times throughout the book of Ezekiel. 

One way or another, God will be known. One way is better.

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” ~Matthew 5:16

Daily Prayer

My God, Maker of the heavens and the earth, Creator of all things, Owner of cattle on a thousand hills. Not a thousand cows, a thousand hills of cows. While I clutch the world’s trinkets, You offer Your treasures. The choice should really not be that difficult.

The greatest of all treasures, my God, is knowing You. May I cast aside all that entangles me, no matter how much it delights, if it stands in the way of knowing You. You, God, are my treasure.

Amen

Daily Question

In what ways does your life display the glory of God?

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Predictably Godly

Daily Reading

Daniel 4-6

Daily Thought

Talk is cheap only if actions do not follow, but otherwise, talk is a good place to begin. It makes public our heart and intention, and Daniel’s was to follow his God. Early on, Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself (Daniel 1:8) and put it into words. “He asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself, ‘Test your servants for ten days’” (Daniel 1:8, 12). This short test grew into a lifelong obedience and Daniel’s consistent character was evident through several generations of kings, always to God’s glory. King Nebuchadnezzar said of Daniel, “the spirit of the holy gods is in you” (Daniel 4:18); then came to acknowledge Daniel’s God is special, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven” (Daniel 4:37). King Belshazzar saw the writing on the wall, but did not know it spelled his doom until Daniel spoke, “God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end” (Daniel 5:26). Finally, King Darius observed that “Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom” (Daniel 6:3).

Jealousy ensued. The high officials, now below Daniel, sought grounds to discredit him and concluded, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God” (Daniel 6:5). They convinced King Darius to establish a silly statute, “For thirty days, no one can pray to any god or man except the king.” Then they sat by Daniel’s window and waited. “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God” (Daniel 6:10-11). The wait was not long. Daniel was predictably godly.

Our talk and our walk go together. Daniel walked well and kings thought him a good guy. Daniel talked well and they knew why. Daniel followed a good God. “Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!’” God did and the king issued a new statute, a better one, “I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever” (Daniel 6:26).

Daily Prayer

My Savior, my God, my Friend. Yes, You call me friend. I love You so much. How can I not speak of You?

I thank You so much for Your care for me. You gave me parents and friends, a neighborhood and teachers, many people have had an incredible influence on me. But You, most of all. If I talk of my friends and family, how much more shall I shout Your Name. You are the One who gives meaning and purpose, who fills me with love and compassion, who teaches me about life. You are my God, my Father in Heaven, my Savior and Lord.

Amen