For today, One Year Bible Online links here.
How we live our lives reflects our hearts in much the same way a mirror reflects our face. If we have God in our hearts people will see it in how we live.
Serve the Lord by praising His name wherever you find yourself. God’s glory is greater than any that can be found on earth, or in heaven. God will lift up the poor and sit them among the elites. He gives the childless families. He rescues the oppressed. Praise the Lord for the great things He has done.
When God’s people follow His lead obstacles get out of their way. Even when those obstacles are geographic features. The psalmist reminds us that even the Red Sea moved aside to allow God’s people to pass. Let us remember that, if we follow God’s lead, the same thing will happen before us.
There is a lot in this passage. The writer goes from point to point. He makes a lot of good points. However, the one which convicts me this morning is what he says about Esau. Esau sacrificed long term good for short term gratification. I know that I struggle with that same problem. All too many times I have made a decision to satisfy my short term desire at the expense of my long term good. I know that I will pay a penalty for doing so. I sincerely ask God to help me overcome this weakness.
Ezekiel prophesies that Egypt’s destruction came about because it became proud and arrogant. The Egyptians thought they were so far above all other nations that they did not need to concern themselves with world affairs. They saw themselves as a strong young lion, as a mover and shaker in world affairs who could do as they pleased. When, in fact, they were nothing more than a large crocodile, powerful and dangerous in their element, but vulnerable to those who knew how to approach them.
As I read this, Ezekiel’s prophesies concerning Egypt remind me of where the United States is today. The U.S. has made promises of support to Israel that it is considering reneging on. The people of the U.S. view themselves as special above all others, without taking any responsibility to use those abilities to make the world better. God’s judgment will come on the nation if the people do not turn to Him once more.