Promises Kept

Today's verse is Ezekiel 36:36
Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. 

Do you  have a promise from God? All do, for God has promised the whole world that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord [Jesus] shall be saved. But it goes beyond that for each of us has a purpose, and if we follow him there is a promise, or promises that he has given us for the fulfilling of that purpose. What God has said, He will do! Do not pay attention to how circumstance make all appear that it cannot happen, for he has said that faith is not based upon outward evidence, but upon his Word, and his Word is inviolate. That is to say, Can Not Be Changed, Can Not Be Broken! O, how great is our God, and Great is his faithfulness, and all that he does, he does so that all will know that He Is God. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ezek 35:1–39:24 and Heb 10:19–11:40
Monday's reading will be:   Ezek 39:25–41:26 and Heb 12–13

A Safe Place

Today's verse is Ezekiel 34:27
And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and fthe earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.

The Lord God, also known as the Great Shepherd is speaking here of his sheep, those that he has gathered from among the nations; chiefly, those that are of the remnant of the Children of Israel, but those of us who have trusted Christ (the Great Shepherd) are also included. There is coming a time, which he will remove the wicked, and those that prey upon their neighbors, seeking whatever they can take, and cast them into hell, as seen in the previous chapters of Ezekiel.  This is what we are to look for, remembering that as Ezekiel was a watchman for Israel, so too are we watchmen to those that live around us; if we warn them, they are responsible for their actions, but if we warn them not, we will have to give an account. So let us therefore, look to that day of deliverance, inviting all that will listen to come with us. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ezek 32–34
Tomorrow's reading will be:   Ezek 35:1–39:24 and Heb 10:19–11:40

The End of The Wicked

Today's verse is Ezekiel 28:19
All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more

And so shall be the mightiest that set their face against God.  This verse is that final statement against that wicked one known as the Devil, Satan or Lucifer. He set himself up against God, so God shall cast him down. But as with us, so with him. Our God is longsuffering with his creatures, and gives all of us opportunity to  repent, or the option to take more rope that we might hang by. The choice is fully ours, enabled though by His Spirit, so let us therefore, consider what we want, Grace or Judgment? As for me, I choose Grace. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ezek 27–31 and Heb 8:1–10:18
Tomorrow's reading will be:  Ezek 32–34

What is God to You

Today's verse is Ezekiel 24:16
Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down. 

What is God to you? In Luke, Jesus tells us: "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."  We see an example of this here. Ezekiel by God's testimony loves and desires his wife. She is important to him, yet when God requires that he let her go, and not even morn her passing, he obeys. So that God can use it as an object lesson to Israel. Let us therefore, consider ourselves, are we as Ezekiel that nothing is as important to him as his relationship with God, or are we as Israel is here, that they think nothing of their relationship to God. Such is the contrast. So I ask again, "What is God to you?"

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ezek 24:15–26:21
Tomorrow's reading will be: Ezek 27–31 and Heb 8:1–10:18

God Keeps His Promises

Today's verse is Hebrews 6:17-18
     Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
     That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Peter tells us that we have many great and precious promises from the Lord our God, Jesus Christ. The greatest is the precious promise of redemption through Jesus Christ by his death on the cross and his resurrection three days later, so that all who come to him will have their sins forgiven. But not only this, but once his he has promised never to leave nor forsake us. He has also promised to guide us and we make our way in this life, to fulfill the purpose he has given us that he might be glorified in us. Amen. Let us therefore, rejoice and set our faces toward him and do as he directs. For we will find him Faithful. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ezek 20:1–24:14 and Heb 5:11–7:28
Tomorrow's reading will be: Ezek 24:15–26:21

Today

Today's verse is Ezekiel 12:25
For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.

 Here we see an injunction to consider the expediency of what God reveals to  us. What God tells us, he tells us today, and it is today that we must respond. Whether we think what was told us was for today, or for sometime in tomorrow, we must act upon it today, and not delay, for tomorrow may very well be to late. We can know from God Word, and then from experience that what God says is what he will do. So once we have clear direction we must act, and not put off till tomorrow, what we know must be done. For while God is never early, he never delays, and what he does, he always does on time, so we must be ready for him when it is done. So, "To day if ye will hear his voice, /Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, /And as in the day of temptation in the wilderness" Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ezek 12–19 and Heb 1:1–5:10
Tomorrow's reading will be: Ezek 20:1–24:14 and Heb 5:11–7:28

After The Fire

Today's verse is Ezekiel 11:19-20
     And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
     That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

When the Lord God judges, he is terrible and the judgments are at best harsh, but in the end when all is cleaned, there will be a remnant with which he has spared, those that have feared him still, even though all about them said that God is dead, or God does not see, or some such thing. But he does see, and he does deal, and only those that fear him shall escape his wrath. And once his wrath is over, we see in this text the result. We see a people being made whole, able by the power of God to do as he pleases, with whom God will dwell. So as we see the evil abound in our land, and in the world about us, let us remember Who God is, and that he does see, and he will react, and once he has he will restore his own. Amen.

To God be the glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ezek 5–11
Tomorrow's reading will be: Ezek 12–19 and Heb 1:1–5:10

Wait On The Lord

Today's verse is Lamentations 3:25

The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

In the midst of hunger, and despair, and at a time of the judgment of his nation, Jeremiah say that the Lord is good to his people that seek him. Such were hard to find in that day, but they were there, after all we have the testimony of three of them: Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Whatever the conditions about us may be, if we seek the Lord God, and wait patiently for him, we will see his blessings by and by, even in this life, (according to his purpose,) but in the next everlasting Joy with no sorrow added at all. Let us therefore, seek him whatever may come our way. Rejoicing in the goodness of our God, whatever form it may take.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Lam 2–5, Ezek 1–4 and Philem
Tomorrow's reading will be: Ezek 5–11

Never Forsaken

Today's verse is Jeremiah 51:5
     For Israel hath not been forsaken,
      Nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts;
      Though their land was filled with sin
      Against the Holy One of Israel.

Yesterday we looked at two things that needed to be avoided, but if we find ourselves in such a place, all hope is not lost. For we see here that through all of the judgment that Israel, and Judah has received, God still has not forsaken them. He still has his plans to restore them, and bring them home again, not just to their land, but to him. So take heart, If you know not Christ's forgiveness, take it to yourself, and make it yours by accepting what he has done for you. If you do know Jesus, trust in him to bring you home and turn back to him and in due time you shall see the full redemption of the Lord. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Jer 51–52, Lam 1
Tomorrow's reading will be: Lam 2–5, Ezek 1–4 and Philem

The Dangers of Disobedience

Today's verse is Jeremiah 50:20
     In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD,
      The iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none;
      And the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found:
      For I will pardon them whom I reserve.

From this passage, and the context that it is in, there are two things everyone should hope to avoid. First, angering God, by forgetting him, by not giving him his due, by neglecting his Salvation, for because of all this, he will visit the consequence of our sins upon us. The other is being the one that God uses to, to discipline his own. For God will restore those that are his, but those that he used to teach them the error of their ways? He will utterly destroy. So whether God has given a command, or just a simple request, let us therefore, strive to do all that would please him, no matter the suffering he may ask of us, for the Joy that shall come will make the suffering seem light in comparison. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Jer 45–50 and Titus 1–3
Tomorrow's reading will be: Jer 51–52, Lam 1

A Reward To The Faithful

Today's verse is Jeremiah 39:17-18
     But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.
     For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.

Ededmelech, of whom this passage is speaking, aided Jeremiah when he was in the miry pit, rescuing him out of that pit, which angered many powerful people. Here we see God remembering this work of faith, and rewarding the doer of it.  And so we see here the principle that Jesus spoke of when he said that if someone just shares a glass of water to one that follows Jesus as his follower, that person will not go unrewarded. While that reward can take many forms, to receive the  best reward, we must be in the family of God, by trusting in the work Jesus Christ has done for us. So let us therefore not miss out, nor lose our reward as others have who obeyed not the Word of God, when they heard it. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Jer 39–44 and 2 Tim 1–4
Monday's reading will be: Jer 45–50 and Titus 1–3

A Sign of The Times

Today's verse is Jeremiah 36:24
Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. 

Here we see the hearts of those that to whom Jeremiah preached. There was no fear of God in them. They did not seek after God nor his ways. Theirs was the attitude that we see today: "God is Dead." And as then so today, judgment is near, but we as follower of Jesus Christ can take heart, for we look for our Savior to return first to claim his own before full judgment is visited. So take heart, be not afraid to stand for Jesus, for as God kept his promise to Jeremiah, so too will he keep his promise to you, to be with you alway, even unto death, and unto the end of the world, and know that whatever you may face, that Jesus Christ is worth it. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Jer 36–38
Tomorrow's reading will be: Jer 39–44 and 2 Tim 1–4

Destroying the Old, To Build The New

Today's verse is Jeremiah 31:28
     And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them,
      To pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down,
      And to destroy, and to afflict;
      So will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.

We have here a tried and true method which in some form we that have trusted Jesus Christ must endure. For when we come to Christ, we bring with us baggage that must be discarded and destroyed. Some of it is stripped off easily, but others must be rooted out, dug out which is a painful process, but still it must be done, but still trust in your God for he watches over you throughout all of this, lovingly measuring out what is necessary, keeping it within what you can bear. Then there shall come a day when all of the old will be torn away, and he then can start to build up and plant those thing in you which please him, and words cannot express the Joy that will follow. So then let us look up to him that loves us, who died for our sins, and know that when he comes again we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Jer 30–35 and 1 Tim 1–6
Tomorrow's reading will be: Jer 36–38

Would God Call You, My Servant?

Today's verse is Jeremiah 27:6
And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.

"My Servant" To be called this of God in scripture is a great honor, for such people as Moses, David, Jacob or Israel have been given this appellation. For the record, Abraham was given the title Friend of God, and as Christians we are called Friends and Brothers or Sisters of Christ. Here we see however, that Nebuchadnezzar is called of God, "My Servant." Uncircumcised, not knowing the ways of God, still he was called "my servant." We have seen however that all others that have this title are those who have a relationship with the almighty God, and so too Nebuchadnezzar, for if we read ahead in Daniel 4, we read of his conversion, by his own testimony. It was not an easy one, for our God needed to humble him, but still we shall see him in eternity with Abraham, Isaac, Israel, Moses, and David as well as all others who have believed God for his promises fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Where will you be found? In what are you trusting? Would God call you servant, friend or brother? If not do not delay, but trust in his promise of redemption through Jesus Christ today. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Jer 25:15–29:32
Tomorrow's reading will be: Jer 30–35 and 1 Tim 1–6

Where Is God?

Today's verse is Jeremiah 23:23
Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? 

Where is God? What kind of Character does he have? Is he has asked here a God that takes an active role in his creation? Or is he a God that jump started what we call creation, and then left us to our own devices? There is a joke in which a scientist after much labor and investigation finds God, then God says, "Alright, now I will count to a million (years) and you hide."  This is not the God the bible describes!  The bible describes a God that is very much active in his creation. It describes a God that anyone who just opens their eyes to the truths about them can find. He is not hiding to any, and those that cannot find him, cannot because they do not wish to, and in due course even they will not be able to deny him any longer. Let us therefore rejoice, and consider his greatest work, when he suffer the death of the cross in our place, then rose up from the dead, that all who will, will be delivered from the curse of their sin and live forevermore with Him. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Jer 21:1–25:14 and 2 Thess 1–3
Tomorrow's reading will be: Jer 25:15–29:32

Our Calling

Today's verse is I Thessalonians 4:7
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 

Today I read such passages as "The heart is deceitful above all things," and "know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke,"  and "behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:" and  "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, /Nor speak any more in his name." Know now that each had something very positive to say in context, and it can all be summed up by the above verse. When we accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour, we received this call to holiness, to turn from the uncleanness of sin and unrighteousness, to walk according to the power of the Holy Spirit given unto us, regardless of the troubles we might see about us that plague us often on a daily basis. Look to God, see him in his Glory, compare the heartache you have to the Cross, the death that Jesus suffered for you. I dare say that while your suffering may not be less, neither will it be greater than that what Jesus has done for you. It is said that all men have a price. No one has paid a higher price for us then Jesus Christ himself. Amen. Selah. [Think about that.]

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Jer 15:10–20:18 and 1 Thess 1–5
Monday's reading will be: Jer 21:1–25:14 and 2 Thess 1–3

God is Still In Control

Today's verse is Jeremiah 14:9
Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not. 

In this segment of scripture we see the tear down, pluck up, and destroy part of Jeremiah. Yet here we see a small ray of hope for the faithful. We see the plea, for which Jesus answers, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." So then as then, so now, when all about us we see what I can only hope is the fullness of wickedness of man (that is to say, that I hope it cannot get worse,) we that know God can trust that he is with us, and that he is in control. His will, will be done, and as promised his judgment will come upon the Earth. So look up, and know he is there watching over is own. He is not as a man astonied, and he is still able to save all that come to him through Jesus Christ.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Jer 13:1–15:9
Tomorrow's reading will be: Jer 15:10–20:18 and 1 Thess 1–5

The Danger Of Our Own Way

Today's verse is Jeremiah 10:23-24
     O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself:
      It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
     O LORD, correct me, but with judgment;
      Not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

We have already seen in another place:
 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
      And lean not unto thine own understanding.
 In all thy ways acknowledge him,
      And he shall direct thy paths.
And so now we see why we are not to lean unto our own understanding. We could say that these two passages teach the same thing. We are not to trust our first impulse, on what we ought to do, but as the prophet requests here, we must ask for God's correction, for our God's direction in our lives. And if we ignore him, and he must respond in anger, what will we have left? Let us never forget who we are, and what he has done for us because of that. And for that reason alone trust in him and the direction that he has promised.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Jer 8:4–12:17 and Col 3–4
Tomorrow's reading will be: Jer 13:1–15:9

Before You Were Born, God Chose You

Today's verse is Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 

While it is true, that there is a small number of which God has said this about: Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samson, Jeremiah, Cyrus, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Paul. (In order of appearance in scripture.) Samuel also may be included. It is true of all that will or have come to Jesus for salvation. Our God knows us, even before we are, and has already chosen for us a purpose. For he knows all that we will desire and what we will do, ever before we were. He has set forth for us, the way we should go, and has already considered the reward he has for us, when it is accomplished. If we like Jonah choose to rebel against his plan, It will still be accomplished, and maybe even greater, but what reward will we see? It is not Fate, nor is it Destiny, but it is God's purpose for you, and he has chosen wisely and has prepared you for it. As he has promised Jeremiah, so too will he be with you as you accomplish his will. Selah. [Think about this]

To God Be The Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Jer 1:4–8:3
Tomorrow's reading will be: Jer 8:4–12:17 and Col 3–4

The Treasure God Has Prepared For Us

Today's verse is Isaiah 64:4
     For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear,
      Neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee,
      What he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him

While this verse is primarily speaking of what God has prepared in heaven for those that have trusted in him, there is to some extent what will be seen even here is this life. Consider Job, who for his trial received double of what he had lost. And Solomon, who for his desire for wisdom that he may rule Israel well, was declared by scripture to be the richest King that ever lived. Silver and Gold being found in such abundance that they were as common as stones. Joseph as well was made to be ruler of all Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. This may not always be the case, and if not then it will be seen more in abundance when we find ourselves ushered into his presence which by itself is the greatest treasure to be found anywhere. The key to all of this is not to be looking for the lesser treasures, but to expect that greater treasure and look for it in him and his redemption found in Jesus Christ our Lord.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Isa 63:7–66:24, Jer 1:1–3 and Col 1–2
Tomorrow's reading will be: Jer 1:4–8:3

God Always Finishes HIs Work

Today's verse is Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

Here is a glorious biblical principle: What God starts he finishes. This starts with our salvation, that once we have received Christ Jesus through belief in his payment of our sin by his death on the cross, and being confident of this by his resurrection, we shall see him in glory nothing failing. Likewise, if there is anything that he has started, any work he has had you begin, he will see it to completion, possibly even if you give it up. So don't! Look always to him, walk according to his guidance and what he has said, he will do. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Isa 58:1–63:6 and Phil 1–4
Monday's reading will be: Isa 63:7–66:24, Jer 1:1–3 and Col 1–2

How To Not Need To Make Haste

Today's verse is Isaiah 52:12
     For ye shall not go out with haste,
      Nor go by flight:
      For the LORD will go before you;
      And the God of Israel will be your rereward.

While there is a time for many that do the will of God to make haste, and we have seen God's children flee (for sometimes God needs to set a fire under us, to get us to move,) if we are doing what our Savior wants of us, we will be where we need to be, when we need to be there. He will show us what our next step needs to be, and he will guard us from unneeded surprises. He will go before us to prepare the way, and he will go behind us to keep the enemy form sneaking up to surprise us. And he will be there to pick us up when we stumble. Let us therefore, resolve to follow him, and do what we know we must do today, and leave tomorrow to him. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Isa 51–57
Tomorrow's reading will be: Isa 58:1–63:6 and Phil 1–4