Whatever else we may say about salvation and the eternal state of believers, it centers around fellowship with God. Today’s reading: Ezekiel 47-48; 1 John 1 And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.” Ezekiel 48:35b 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3 Ezekiel concludes the long description of

Beware! The conflict of lawless people vs. God’s people began in the Garden and continues to this day. Today’s reading: Ezekiel 45-46; 2 Peter 3 9 “Thus says the Lord God: Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and execute justice and righteousness. Cease your evictions of my people, declares the Lord God. Ezekiel 45:9 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose y

Honoring Christ by maintaining hope even in the midst of great trials and suffering, can make the Christian life a curiosity to unbelievers. Today’s reading: Ezekiel 36-37; 1 Peter 3 In accordance with their ways and their deeds I judged them. 20 But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my holy name, in that people said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they had to go out of his land.’ 21 But I had concern for my holy name, which

God never lets us go.  But what if we sin, grievously?  Does He still hold on to us? Today’s reading: Ezekiel 16; Hebrews 12 62 I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, 63 that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord God.”                                                                                                Ezekiel

God is pleased with those who turn away from arrogant unbelief and trust Him even though death overtakes them waiting. Today’s reading: Ezekiel 10-12; Hebrews 11:1-19 21 And the word of the Lord came to me: 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing’? 23 Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in I

The destruction of Jerusalem brought inconsolable grief, a deep longing for the good, old days, but God had something new and far better planned. Today’s reading: Lamentations 3-5; Hebrews 8 21 Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old— 22 unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us. Lamentations 5:21-22 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the

When God makes a vow, He swears by Himself and it will be done. Always. Today’s reading: Jeremiah 51-52; Hebrews 6 14 The Lord of hosts has sworn by himself: Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts, and they shall raise the shout of victory over you. 15 “It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. Jeremiah 51:14-15 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had

All authority comes from God, but it must be used in God-honoring ways. Today’s reading: Jeremiah 36-37; Philemon 23 As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot. 24 Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments. 25 Even when Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemar

Two godly men were unjustly imprisoned, but their responses to suffering were quite different. Today’s reading: Jeremiah 20-22; 2 Timothy 1 7 O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. 8 For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long.               Je

Spiritual growth is a gradual process, like a great tree, it will not reach maturity quickly. Today’s reading: Proverbs 19-20; 2 Corinthians 3 20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.                                          Proverbs 19:20 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.  

Although there are exceptions to the rules given in Proverbs, there are no exceptions to the rule that God is with His people in their deepest trials and has a good purpose for even the bleakest circumstance. Today’s reading: Proverbs 15-16; 2 Corinthians 1 20  …and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.                          Proverbs 16:20b For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sente

Today’s reading: Psalms 132-135; I Corinthians 8 15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 16 They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; 17 they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.                                                              Psalm 135:15-18 “…we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “