God had stern words for prophets who posed as speaking for Him when in fact they were generating messages from their own hearts. It’s a slippery slope telling lies and attributing it to God.

The solid grounding that comes through being in God’s Word on a daily basis provides the believer with a keen ear to discern when somebody gets “off.” God’s Spirit also provides a “bearing witness” with or uneasiness about what is being passed as God speaking.

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. [Ps. 43:3]

READ/LISTEN: Ez. 13-15

God told Ezekiel that He would bring the exiles back to their homeland and that He would change out their heart of stone for a heart of flesh, one that was responsive to Him.

God changes hearts. This is why prayer is so vital to seeing someone who has a heart of stone experience the change. We ask God to work on someone. When their heart is ready, their responsiveness to Him will be apparent.

So, we keep praying.

READ/LISTEN: Ezekiel 10-12

Make no mistake. God hates sin.

Shall we continue in sin that grace (has to keep) abound(ing)? God forbid. [Rom. 6:1]

Thanks to Christ, those who have accepted His Salvation are cleansed from the sin that separated them from God.

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. [Is. 59:2]

Ezekiel was shown horrible punishment to be brought upon Israelites who rejected God, but possibly the greatest tragedy is to have Him shut off His hearing to our cries and prayers.

READ/LISTEN: Ezekiel 6-9

God used Ezekiel to clarify the principle of the warning in chapter 3 of his prophecy. Parents, teachers, and employers are wise to learn this process to bring correction to their subordinates.

In education, it’s not wise to bring overbearing punishment upon a student if they have been insufficiently warned. The warning is a vital step in the correction process.

The use of scripture is key when issuing a verbal warning because it is “Given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.” [2 Tim. 3:16]

READ/LISTEN: Ez. 2-5

Upon listening to the NIV Dramatized recording of Ezekiel 1, allow your mind to envision jets and helicopters. For a man living nearly 600 years before Christ, his words come very close to describing these contemporary weapons of war.

In my view, this is an advantage of hearing the Word rather than reading it. It allows your mind to see what is being described more easily.

If you want to try it, go to http://www.biblegateway.com and click on “Bible” on the black band at the top on and select “Audio Bibles” on the drop-down menu. Select NIV Dramatized or whatever version you prefer. You will experience how I have done my Bible listening for the past 4 years.

READ/LISTEN: Lam. 4,5; Ezekiel 1

As Jeremiah laments the fallen condition of Israel, he is inspired to utter one of scripture’s most profound and pivotal descriptions of God’s loving and faithful nature. It is found in Lamentations, chapter 3 from verse 22 to 36.

The prophet goes on to give his recipe for relief from trouble. We go straight to Jesus.

READ: Lamentations 2, 3

In scripture, cities have identities like people. God certainly indicates his focus upon them by sending evangelists to them … Jonah to Ninevah … and having books of the Bible written to them … Colosse, Philippi, Ephesus etc.

Obviously, Jerusalem is the city to get the most attention.

We are to pray for Jerusalem. We can pray and strategize how to evangelize cities. We are to pray for the peace of whatever city we find ourselves living in.

READ: Jer. 52; Lamentations 1

Upon hearing Jeremiah’s prophecy against ancient Babylon, one takes heart that the Lord has each nation on a leash and carefully watches their behavior.

The recent news is filled with tension between nations and rulers. It is a sign of the times … the Lord’s return is obviously closer.

The Christian knows God has world events on an operative timeline, and that we should pray for His Will to be done in the earth. We are to have no fear … just supreme trust that He is in charge. We, meanwhile, do all we can to share the gospel with every person we can.

Paul said, “We warn everyone we meet, and we teach everyone we can, all that we know about him, so that, if possible, we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ.” [Col. 1:28]

READ: Jer. 50, 51

The love and care in the heart of a mother toward her children is a powerful and beautiful thing. After closely watching mothers in action for the past 16 years at Trinity Christian School, I realize that the bond and dynamic between a mother and child is one of nature’s greatest forces.

The BEST to all mothers for allowing God’s nurture and care to be expressed through your love. I so greatly respect you.

READ: Jer. 48, 49

Many contemporaries of Jeremiah were enticed to flee to Egypt, thinking there they would find protection from the Babylonian conquest. False! They were followed there and lost their lives … most of them … simply because they chose what appeared to be safe rather than just obeying God’s command through Jeremiah.

Investing is this way. You think your money is safe in this, or that, or those. False!

Jesus said the only safe investment is in God’s Kingdom, “ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” [Matt. 6:20]

READ: Jer. 43-47