November 11th Bible in a Year Readings

Ezekiel 23:1-49 + Hebrews 10:18-39 + Psalm 109:1-31 + Proverbs 27:13
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Old Testament - Ezekiel chapter 23 is interesting in its use of prostitution and lust as the metaphors for Israel's political alliances with neighboring lands.  My thoughts here are that we live in a "sexualized" world in so many ways today - and perhaps things weren't so different back then.  Sex is obviously something that was created as a good by God - but can so quickly and easily be twisted into something that is not good.   Sex is good in the right context of marriage.  Detrimental in the wrong.  It seems to me that lust and the selling of sex was as prevalent back in Ezekiel's today as it is in ours.  To which we may need to remember well Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 6:18 - "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."  And of course James 4:7 - "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  Is there an area of our lives related to sex that you must flee from?  Will you flee?

New Testament - Hebrews chapter 10 today is amazing!  In verse 22 we read: "Let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water."  Great stuff!  The last few words of this verse remind me of the blessing of Baptism - as an outward sign of our inner transformation and faith in Christ. Verse 24 is just pure joy & goodness: "Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds." Outbursts of love & good deeds indeed!  Who are you encouraging these days to outbursts of love and good deeds?  Can you think of some ways to do this?  And verse 25 reminds me of the importance of finding a church community to do life with together: "And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near."  Do you meet together with others in a local church?  Have you found a small group, community group, or prayer group that you can spend some quality time with outside of regular church services?  A group where you can encourage, warn, and pray for each other? Verse 26 and the following verses are strong reminders of the one option we have for our faith - the one true God to follow: "Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins."  Is there another sacrifice besides Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross that will cover our sins?

Psalms - Today in Psalm 109 verse 4 in the NIV we read these words of David – “I am a man of prayer.”  Wow. I like that. And I’m not sure I can honestly say that about myself right now. Sure, I will roll out of bed and offer up some prayers. Yeah, I’ll try to say a prayer before meals. And yes, I’ll pray briefly before going to sleep. Oh yeah, maybe in church once a week too I’ll offer up some prayers. But, for me to say “I am a person of prayer” would probably not be truthful. Ouch. Don’t worry – I’m not beating myself up too badly over it. But - if I really want to realize that God is holy and a Rock and if I really want to love God and other people, then I have a hunch that being a person of prayer is a critical part of the equation. I don’t think that prayer is so much talking to God as it is really slowing down and listening to God. Sure, it’s a conversation, but I think in our fast pace world today we would do well to really slow down in prayer and listen to God. Listen for that still small voice within our hearts leading us to God’s kingdom and glory and peace. It’s there. I think it takes prayer to really hear it oftentimes. How about you? Are you a person of prayer? Do you want to be a person of prayer? When you pray, do you talk more or listen more to God? Do you want to live your life as a person of prayer?

Bible.org's commentary on Psalm 109 titled "A Prayer for the Punishment of the Wicked" is at this link. 

Proverbs - Proverbs 27:13 today teaches us: "Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.  Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners." This is a great simple but important reminder to get collateral or security on debts!  Particularly if the guarantee is for someone you don't know - though I'd recommend a guarantee on family loans too...  :)  Otherwise you may see your money "fly away" from you...

Worship Video: Today's readings in Psalm 109 reminds me of Third Day's song "Call My Name:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEXXUdU--Zg

Have you called on Jesus' Name?  Click here and call on Him!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you are spurring on others in your life toward love and good deeds each and every day. Pray that you meet together with Christ's body, the church, regularly. Pray that you are encouraging others and being encouraged as the Day of Christ's return is approaching!

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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Comments

[Ramona]

Ezekiel 23:1-49

The following is one of the passages that truly caught my eye and imagination:

For when she left Egypt, she did not leave her spirit of prostitution behind. She was still as lewd as in her youth, when the Egyptians satisfied their lusts with her and robbed her of her virginity. (Verse 8-NLT)

The phrase, “For when she left Egypt,” implies to me that this “prostitution” this idolatry was a “seed” implanted in Jacob/Israel long before she got to Egypt. Sin is so very insidious and we can think we have uprooted it when we have only mowed the lawn and cut it back. Could this have entered into the household when Rachel stole her father Laban’s household gods? (Genesis 31:19)

We just don’t roll out of bed one morning and commit a sin. We don’t just begin sacrificing our children on our altars of self-interest, expending our children to satisfy the things we brought into existence because of our own lusts. The seeds of our idolatry, the seeds of every kind of deviant behavior we can think of, the seeds of our “little” sins lie hidden in our hearts.

We can pull out our little lawn mowers, place chemicals around the “plant” and try to burn it out; however, if even one little speck of the root remains, it will grow back—in time. When it appears above the surface we are shocked and amazed and justify it away, but it has always been there.

The images from the Books of the Law dealing with the removal of “leprosy” or leaven from the home before Passover, clarify to me how diligent one must be to rid our “temple” and homes from sin. Once it is found it must be swept out and examined, then reexamined over time to check for recurring outbreaks. (Leviticus 13-14)

We must remember that a seed and its eventual root system is underground and we never know it’s there unless we have planted it. What is under the surface looks nothing like the mature plant. To find the true root of our sin we need prayer, revelation and trust that God is working things out in our lives.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Dee]

God is pray for our nation and our children. I pray for enemy to stay at bay. No weapon formed against me will prosper. You are good Lord