If you read my “Blue Light” post several days ago, you should see my face now. It’s peeling. Old, dead skin is coming off and a new layer of epidermis is being revealed. The process will hopefully improve the pre-cancer portions of the skin on my face.

As God deals with the cancerous sin in our lives, the old must go. The process brings new skin and new health.

“Therefore is any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17

READ/HEAR: Ezek. 21,22

God told Israel through the prophet Ezekiel that He would respond to them, their sins and rebellions, out of WHO He was rather than just to what they had done.

“Situational ethics” is changing and judging by what you see in front of you. It’s being “fluid.”  You are a chameleon, changing your tune and standards to fit the situation.

God’s character defines how He responds to His children. He is loving and just, compassionate and long-suffering. He does not change for ANYONE.

Our goal should be to respond to life’s issues out of Christian character. Since our rightstanding is like filthy rags, we should say, “What would Jesus do here.”

READ/HEAR: Ezek. 19,20

This may be the clearest reference to the U.S. in the scriptures. Ezekiel sees a great eagle plant a seedling in fertile soil by abundant water. It prospered, spreading out roots and branches.

The eagle is a prominent symbol of the U.S.A. and is upon our Great Seal.

Our early forefathers planted a cross in the ground and held communion in their first acts when founding Jamestown. The six sided star above the eagle is its glory and represents the Star of David, referring to Christ.

Let’s pray for our nation that it return to Christ.

READ/HEAR: Ezek. 17,18

God told Ezekiel to oppose leaders who devise evil and give wicked advice. He was to tell them that God would bring upon them judgements and make them realize that God was over all.

How foolish it is for leaders to despise God and tell everyone they’re doing the right thing when indeed, they are corrupt. “I know what’s best,” they say, but evil is in their heart.

Jesus went into the temple and ran them out. He overturned the tables of deceitful money changers and humbly but firmly displayed His Authority over all.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

READ/HEAR: Ezek. 10-12

It seemed that Ezekiel’s message spoke commendation to those who carried an anguish over the sin of Judah. These were marked in their foreheads and escaped pain and judgement God poured out.

This can apply to saints today. We can carry the burden to see righteousness restored, not being judgmental over the sinners, but compassionately concerned about the rampant sin of our society. We can make it a matter of prayer for our nation and those duped by sin around us.

What can we do? Pray. Evangelize. Support missions. Be faithful in church attendance. Be salt and light to a lost world. Care. Trust God.

READ/HEAR: Ezek. 7-9

The inhabitants of Jerusalem, primarily from the tribe of Judah, incurred God’s judgements because of their stubborn refusal to cast off their sin. Ezekiel called them “headstrong.”

It’s a sad thing to see people selfishly consider their personal intelligence and preferences to be superior to God’s. God had granted the Jews the perfect culture in a city at the center of the whole world, but they hardened their hearts and shut Him out.  (Sound like anyone you know?)

We are wise to place God’s Word at the pinnacle of our thinking, put God’s values and instructions for life at the core of our values, and live by the faith and provision He grants gratefully. We then become an active witness of His blessing to all who meet us.

God always knows best!

READ/HEAR: Exek. 4-6

Ezekiel heard and saw many profound things, but he was primarily a voice to the nation of Israel. God gave him warnings for the people. It was his responsibility to give the warnings but up to the people to heed them.

As we read or hear the admonitions of scripture, we can either obey or resist. So often we choose to go our own way and miss God’s promptings, but there is grace to recover yourself and make things right again. Confess your sin, receive His cleansing, and go on in faith. God’s grace and power is greater than any shortcoming we have.

As we heed God’s counsel for living, we are a good example for those younger who are beginning their earthly journey. We can maybe spare them from some pitfalls that have caused us to stumble.

READ/HEAR: Ezekiel 1-3

This was Jeremiah’s plea as a result of seeing the punishment of the Jews. The devastation they experienced was demoralizing. Their once proud culture stripped of their dignity. He placed much blame on the elders and religious leaders who had abused the privilege of the office they held. As a result, the people brought reproach upon God Who could not leave their sin unpunished.

We mess up all the time. But, we have an Advocate, a perfect High Priest, a Leader Who walked this life in a perfect way. When we give our lives to Him, we experience His love, His forgiveness, and His “Fresh Start.”

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? [Heb. 2:3]

READ/HEAR: Lam. 4,5

Note: I am so excited to hear one of TCS’s grads, Kaley Grace, preach at Palmetto Baptist Church this morning at both 9:00 and 11:00 services. She has been a solo missionary in Uganda recently. So proud!

Jeremiah at times felt like God’s punching bag, like a target God was shooting arrows into. He experienced the depths of suffering as expressed in his book, Lamentations. Much of his anguish occurred because of the way God’s people suffered in the destruction of Jerusalem. The pinnacle seemed to be when he was cast into a muddy pit and the waters flooded over his head.

He cried out to God and was rescued. He always found hope in God. He found new mercies every morning. He found God to be faithful to him even in his suffering.

God doesn’t always instantly remove us from our pain, but He’s always with us and gives us the strength to endure and come out victorious.

Through Christ Jesus, we are more than conquerors. [Phil. 4:13]

READ/HEAR: Lamentations 1-3