November 20th Bible in a Year Readings

Ezekiel 40:28-41:26 + James 4:1-17 + Psalm 118:19-29 + Proverbs 28:3-5
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Old Testament - Ezekiel chapters 40 and 41 in today's readings include verses where we read a lot about measurements and cubits and such!  I have to admit that I sometimes zone out a bit when reading these types of details in the Old Testament.  However - something that popped into my mind once when reading through these types of verses that has benefited me greatly in my appreciation of measurements and such is this - God is a God of precision.  God is a God of detail.  God is an organized God.  Which I think is great news!  I mean, look at our own human bodies and all our internal organs.  We are wonderfully made by a God who is a God of precision and detail.  So, remembering this when I read these types of measurements verses helps.  It helps me keep my focus and interest on what I'm reading.   I hope this helps you in some way as you read through detailed chapters like these in the Bible.  If God showed this much organization and care for Ezekiel's Temple, do you suppose he continues to show his organization and care for our local churches today?

Ezekiel chapter 41 verse 3 stands out today: "Then he went into the inner room at the end of the Holy Place."  This is interesting in that the angelic being leading Ezekiel through this vision and the temple enters the Most Holy Place - Ezekiel does not.  Even though it's a vision.  And even though God's presence is not in the Most Holy Place at this time (we'll see the Presence coming next chapter).  Yet Ezekiel does not enter.  Why?  Because the law was that only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place.   This shows great obedience on Ezekiel's part!  Even in a vision, he's obedient.  Are there areas of our life where God is calling us to be obedient?  Even if we think our obedience in a specific circumstance or situation won't matter (e.g. a vision or a dream or even a small circumstance in real life) - will we still be obedient?  Below is one of my all-time favorite images demonstrating obedience that I have to post up a couple of times a year!  :)

New Testament - James chapter 4 continues to just level me...  This book is phenomenal.  I need to read this book more than just once a year when I come around to it in the One Year Bible.  The verse today that just made me set the Bible down for a minute and reflect was verse 4: "You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can't be a friend of God."   That is some heavy duty language...  it pierced me in reading it today.   Am I a friend of the world?  Am I trying to be a friend of the world?  Per this verse, where does this pursuit of the world put me with my relationship with God?   Am I an "adulterer", in the sense of my relationship with God and the world?   (now, please keep in mind, I'm a huge fan and believer of grace...  but sometimes we need to let verses like this really sink in.  We need to reflect.  And respond if need be... and let Jesus save us and heal us if need be...)

Verse 7 is something surely each one of us should commit to memory: "Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you."   This is so true.  Resist.  And he will flee!  Please know this is true!  Resist!

And verse 8 is so true as well: "Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you."  Another one to put into memory - and practice each day.  Have you drawn close to God this very day?  And has God drawn close to you?

Verse 14 I think is so helpful for us to remember - and to give Thanks for each day we have: "How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone."  Life is short.  Every day is indeed a blessing and an opportunity to love and know God more.  Please take advantage of each and every day God gives you.  Diving into his Word each day through the One Year Bible is one amazing thing you can do every day.  As is prayer of course!

Psalms - Psalm 118 is the last half of the psalm possibly sung by Jesus and the disciples after the Last Supper - see yesterday's posting below for details.   What an amazing Psalm...  Verse 22 was quoted by Jesus in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10 and Luke 20:17 and he used this verse to refer to himself - "The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone."  Do you believe this verse applies to Jesus?  Is Jesus the cornerstone in your life?

Verse 26 was the chant of the crowds as Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday" "Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD."   And verse 29 Michael W. Smith quotes in a song! "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever."   :)

Proverbs - Proverbs 28 verse 4 today teaches us: "To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them." This is a great reminder that obeying God "heaps coals upon the head" of those who are not obeying God.  Let us obey the Lord!  Let us obey the lion of Judah!

Worship God:  James 4:8 reminds me of Michael W. Smith's song "Draw Me Close:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ0V97WOHAU

Have you drawn close to God?  Click here and He will draw close to you!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." James 4:8 ESV

Prayer Point: Pray that you draw near to God each and every day. Pray in thanksgiving that He draws near to you!

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

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
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

[Jenny]

Gotta admit, these Eze readings arent my fave. kinda like Leviticus and some chapters in Numbers. I know great teachers can really pull some amazing stuff from it. But very good point, God is a God of order and percision.

James is great to read...doesnt matter how many times you read something in the Word, you get something new everytime! v.1-3 are right on, gotta be careful and determine ur motives. We can fool ourselves sometimes into thinking our desires our Godly when in reality they are not (they are evil). Thats when u gotta pray God will reveal your heart to you....the heart is wicked, dont trust it. We still have our sin nature in us, though we are given a new heart and mind thru Christ, we arent always operating fully in the spirit. the flesh creeps in there. I had a verse posted up once on myspace (Psalm 37:4) and some guy i never really talked to n wasnt aware if he was a Christian straight out rebuked me for putting that verse up. I was hurt...but he was right! But how would this guy know my motives? he didnt...but God did and he was just the messenger. I was seeking to delight myself in the Lord in order to get God to give me this guy I wanted. But, God straight out used this other fellow to rebuke me. its true! God's not a robot or maid we order around, trying to get wat we want from Him. Sure He longs to bless us, but its HIS will, He knows us so intimately deep down, what we think will delight our hearts, is wrong!! What did God give me? Not the guy I wanted, but a deeper, closer relationship with Him. I didnt realize THAT was what I wanted, but God knew that would be more fulflling. yes, i still love this guy, but I had to put this aside b'cos my soul desires Christ, my flesh desires this dude ;).

See, our hearts our wicked...dont ever trust them. I feel straight out awful for even confessing that to who knows how many ppl, but I'm know I'm not alone, just honest ;)

I was just thinking of this yesterday, then i read it last night in your blog...friendship with the world. I was thinking about how ppl at my work...my coworkers/friends have parties a lot and i never get invited, tho ppl at work like me plenty. but I overhear after the fact ppl talking about parties and stuff that everyone went to but me. . I was thinking of that yesterday...not really hurt, but wondering about it. then i thought, no way...I have chosen the road less traveled and will not walk away. that old lifestyle has no appeal to me anymore (Resist the devil and he will flee). I will walk the way of the cross, for its the better way. I have no regrets and know in the next world i will have no regrets.

Friendship with the world is to be "in the world" to love the things that are of the world...we are to be sanctified. We gotta be careful because the world can draw u in b4 you realize it! We cant leave the world as paul talks about somewhere?? It doesnt mean u cant have nonbeliver friends...this stumped me a bit as a young believer, we are to be a light on the dark, the salt of the earth, I truely love all my friends so much. But I dont see how you can have an deep, intimate friendship with a nonbeleiver...if you are walking in the light and they are not...its just not possible. Light and darkness cannot dwell together.

James is awesome but I better stop, this is getting reallly long!

I love this: " The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone." I used to listen to a song by Jars of Clay with that in the lyrics and really wondered what it meant, was really thinking about it and didnt even pray about it, but that Sunday at church the pastor discussed that verse the whole service. haha, God is sooo awesome!!! Who doesnt want a Father like this...that hears your innermost thoughts and desires and speaks to you when u dont even ask! God is so great!!

i really love the rest of that Psalm too! beautiful. Proverbs has great stuff. this is too long tho, i will meditate on it on my own. =)

[Nancy]

It's important to quote scripture accurately. James 4.7 in total states:
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
It is a scripture with a promise & a condition. The condition is that we first must SUBMIT to God, then RESIST the devil. It is only by our submission to God will we have the God given power & strength to be able to resist the devil. It is in God's authority that causes the devil to flee.
Acts 19.14-16 is an example of what can happen if you don't.

14Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.

[Deedee]

God is a God of detail. I love that about him. He is specific and likes things just so and orderly. I qisg I had jist a thimbleful of his order. I do maybe at certain times of the year but that's it. Lol

Abram was all about God's ways and Lot was about the world's ways..which one are you? Life is short..pray hard.
Such good verses to live by! Bless the Lord Oh soul! Give thanks to the Lord..my God and King. His love endures forever! Amen!

Let us obey the Lord and doing so will heap burning coals on the wicked. Obey the Lion of Judah! Amen