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In the days before we had our iphone in our hand, pocket or purse 24/7, we had to call the front desk at a hotel and set up a wake up call.  Now we just set our alarm and do not have to ask anyone for assistance.

I remember the sound of that phone ringing to wake us up early in the morning at the hotel, usually to get up and get ready to head to a sporting event for my kids. I groggily got out of bed and began the process of getting myself and the family ready for the day.  That wake up call did nothing to transform me, but it did get me out of bed in the early morning.

Today in our reading Ezekiel 1-2:1 we read about the prophet Ezekiel and the wake up call he received from God. My wake up call was disturbing for a moment, but Ezekials wake up call was a reminder from God that He sat on the throne and is full of glory and goodness.

The chapter begins describing Ezekiel as a 30 year old man sitting by the river Chebar. Ezekiel was a prisoner who was taken captive by the Baylonians. While sitting in captivity, he sees an amazingly strange vision from the Lord.

I challenge you to open your Bible and read the vision that Ezekiel had, it will cause you to pause and imagine what it would have been like to see what he saw…

*vs4 – a great storm, lightning, fire inside the cloud, fire glowing like gleaming amber
*vs5 – four living beings that looked human
*vs6 – they each had four faces and four wings
*vs7 – their legs were straight, and their feet had hooves that shone like burnished bronze
*vs8 – human hands under their wings
*vs9 – each one moved straight forward in any direction without turning around
*vs10 – Each had a human face in the front, the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left, and the face of an eagle at the back.
*vs11 – each had 2 pairs of outstretched wings
*vs13 – The living beings looked like bright coals of fire and flashed like lightening
*vs15 – Each had a wheel attached to the ground
*vs16 – The wheels sparkled and had a second wheel turning crosswise within it.
*vs18 – The rims of the wheels were covered with eyes all around

Verses 19-28 describe the holy splendor that shines all around the throne of God.

All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me. “Stand up, son of man,” said the voice. “I want to speak with you.”
Ezekiel 1:28-2:1

This vision gives us a glimpse of the glory of God. We think we may know who God is, but in reading this passage we are in awe of Who God really is and What He is capable of. We have the opportunity to open our mind and give God the praise of being even bigger and more powerful than we can imagine. May we have a wake up call that gives us a glimpse of the glory of Who God is and be transformed more and more into His likeness.

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
2 Corinthians 3:18

Who do you turn to for advice?  Do you listen to advice even though you do not want to hear what the person has to say?

Our lives are a series of events, traversing through different phases and stages, hopefully learning, and becoming wiser along the way.  The lessons we learn, although difficult and some painful, can mold us into being more thankful and content.

Unfortunately, in some cases, life can make us more bitter and angry.  Perhaps events have altered us so negatively, we have lost our trust in others.  Our perspective on life can become jaded and negative, no matter what the circumstance.

Today’s reading is from the Book of Jeremiah, verses 1 to 19.  Jeremiah, a prophet of God, had the grueling lifelong task of professing to the Jewish people about the pending doom and destruction of Judah.  For forty years, Jeremiah preached to the Jews telling of the pending destruction that would come upon them unless they turned to God to repent.   Jeremiah implored the Jews to ask for forgiveness, turn away from sin and idols, and praise God.  Unfortunately, they did not listen and ultimately, the Jews were overtaken for years of torture and imprisonment by the Babylonians.

Back to the advice of others, I have learned that “there is nothing new under the sun.” We live our lives and at times, we feel alone.  We struggle.  We are frustrated.  We are angry.  We are sad.  We are heartbroken.  We close ourselves off from others.

Why?  Because our focus can become selfish and self-centered.  I am not talking about those that deal with mental illness and perhaps cannot control their emotions.  Sometimes, we only blame others without owning our piece of responsibility.  Perhaps there is someone in our lives who is trying to help us, providing counsel and advice, but we refuse to listen or do not want to hear what they have to say. We can become arrogant and closed off.

Sometimes, the answer to solve our problem, is not what we want to hear.  Perhaps the advice we are receiving is about taking a difficult path or requires us to make changes to our lives.

From my perspective, the most important trait to preserve in our lives is humility.  Humility enables us to hear the perspective of others, consider their opinion, and explore whether we have room to change or grow.  Humility opens our ears and mind to the opinions of others and helps us consider how we ourselves can solve a challenge and not just blame others.

The Jewish people received guidance and advice, straight from God, and they shunned Jeremiah because they did not want to hear what he had to say.  Maybe there is a “Jeremiah” in your life right now that is trying to help you.  Perhaps there is a friend or family member that you “shut down” because they offer you advice you do not want to hear.   My prayer is that we open our hearts and mind, listen to the Word of God, listen to those trying to help us, and stay humble.

Our eternal lives may depend on it.

Today’s reading:  Isaiah 61

On May 4, NBC News reported that COVID 19 deaths in the United States passed one million.  On May 14, an 18 year old gunman motived by hate killed ten people at a local grocery store in Buffalo, New York.  As of May 15, approximately 3,700 Ukrainian civilians had been killed, and an additional 3.4 million refugees driven from their homeland, by Russian forces that began invading Ukraine on February 24.  Unfortunately these are just examples of the destruction happening around our world as we speak.  It is heart breaking.  Do you ever find yourself asking why?  Not why bad things happen, because we know that is a result of sin, but why doesn’t God do something to stop the destruction and heartache?

I think our text for today, Isaiah 61, gives us some insight.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn…(Isaiah 61:1-2).

Why isn’t God doing anything now?  The answer is that God already did something to address the broken world when he sent his son Jesus.  Isaiah 61 pointed to the coming Messiah, the savior of the world.  Jesus himself referenced this same text in Luke 4 when he revealed himself as the Messiah to religious leaders in the synagogue.

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing (Luke 4:18-21).

Look closely.  Do you notice the difference between the passage in Isaiah 61 and the passage in Luke 4?  Luke 4 stops after the year of the Lord’s favor and leaves out the reference to God’s vengeance.  Why?  Because Jesus’ arrival as the Messiah ushered in the year of the Lord’s favor, when everyone was given the opportunity to come to faith in Jesus. God desires for every person to confess Jesus as Lord so they can be saved.  Because, when Judgement Day comes, God will judge every person.  No exceptions.  Those who have already accepted his invitation will spend eternity with God.  Those who have not will be separated from God and endure eternal punishment.  Until that day, we have the freedom to choose.

Choose wisely.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14).

Today’s Reading: Psalm 103

 

Psalm 103: 1- 5

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and all that is within me,

    bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits,

who forgives all your iniquity,

    who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit,

    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s

A brief outline of David’s life: 

• The youngest of six brothers
• He was placed in complete isolation from the family as a shepherd.
• Serving his brothers in the midst of war and not being able to fight.
• Defeated a giant.
• Becoming a musician to the king.
• Becoming best friends with the prince.
• Becoming the son-in-law to the king.
• Running for your life from the king.
• Committing adultery.
• Committing murder.
• Losing your child as a baby.
• Losing another child.
• Running away from your son trying to murder you.
• Having a kingdom.
• Loving God.

This is just a brief outline of the life of David, the king of Israel. Throughout his life he experienced so many lows and highs. Some of the lows and highs that he experienced gives us a glimpse into his heart and his devotion to God. By no means, did David have an easy life. The majority of David’s life he was running for his life, literally. He did have some peace, but many times in his life he was being tripped and tried and trapped by the “fowler”. He did not have true peace that he was able to give himself. The only peace that he could get was from God. It may be because of all of his tribulations that is why he loved God so much and was able to truly understand God.

The 103rd psalms is a reflection of his true devotion and his love for God for everything that he had experienced through his life. We can have days, weeks, months, and years of tribulation and hardship and sometimes we question how this is working for God. When we think of David and look at this song we have to be encouraged that we will endure many things. Hopefully we won’t have to endure the same trials and David did, but we will have our own trials and tribulations that we will be faced with. We have to understand that it is not through our own peace and understanding that we are able to get through these hard times, but it’s only through God’s love that is within us.

It is easy to read Psalm 102 because it is so relatable. If you can’t personally relate to the trials and tribulations this psalmist records, you definitely know someone near you that is facing hardship. We can all identify with the frustration and discouragement we read in this chapter.

The first eleven verses of Psalm 102 describe the trials we face…

102:3 – my days disappear like smoke, my bones burn like a furnace
102:4 – my heart is struck down like grass and has withered
102:5 – because of my loud groaning, I am skin and bones
102:7 – I lie awake, lonely
102:8 – my enemies taunt me day after day
102:9 – my tears run down into my drink
102:11 – My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass.

BUT…..

The the psalmist gives us hope and changes everything with this one word…”but”.

But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.
Psalm 102:12

This life gives us challenging and scary circumstances, BUT one day, it will change! When Christ returns to rule and reign for 1000 years, it will all be different. He will have mercy on those living.

You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem – and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help.
Pslam 102:13

The city and the people have endured much hardship, but will be restored. Jesus will appear and rule and reign again. The prayers of those with little hope will be heard. The Lord will be praised. Life on earth will be different.

Let this be recorded for a generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord. Tell them the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die. And so the Lord’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem, when multitudes gather together and kingdoms come to worship the Lord.
Psalm 102:18-22

We will face struggles, fears and trials, BUT we have God’s promises to hold onto. We have the promise that life on earth will be different. We have hope when we put our trust in Him. Jesus promises that He is with us to the end of the age. This is His promise to us.

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:20

Reading Psalm 91 this week, I have been comforted by the reminders of the qualities of God’s nature that bless those who believe & are faithful in Him. It is a great comfort to know that in my times of need, in all the spiritual darkness and danger and weight of this world, the Lord will always be my refuge; as verse 2 says, “I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” I feel grateful to know He will:

– protect us & deliver us from destruction

– answer our pleas for help

– be with us through troubles & trials

– rescue us from evil

– honor our faith in Him

– truly satisfy us

– lead us to salvation

I am further glad this passage does not tell us life is without trial for the faithful; I think of James 1, counting it joyful to find trials in faith to steadfastly receive the crown of life. We know in our lives, we’re not exempt from disease, pain, heartache, emotional upheaval, even death; but we know we do not need to fear these things, because the Lord offers spiritual richness, deliverance from evil, joy, hope, peace, and life everlasting, far greater and more powerful than fear or worry or anxiety about our own situations.

I reflect on Psalm 91:1; “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Not he who has dwelled, or will dwell; but he who dwells, actively living and being in the Lord’s presence. You can’t live in sin and still live within the Lord’s presence: I think of Romans 8:7: “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.” All these wonderful, comforting qualities of the Lord: in my own struggles, am I still actively seeking the Lord’s presence and living in Him, or am I living disobediently, hostile to God? We all have things inside us we are grappling with in our lives right now; being honest with yourself, what are yours? For me, anxiety and depression are daily difficulties. So I ask myself: is my love of the Lord and thankfulness of His honoring my faithfulness being held back & kept from being properly expressed by these worries & negative feelings? Do your conflicts – inner and outer – get in the way of your dwelling with the Lord, or are you using these conflicts as a measure to express joy and display your strength found in the Lord? Whatever this conflict looks like in your life, I pray that you too would recognize how you can more firmly live within all blessings of the Lord’s presence.