Ezekiel 40:28-41:26; James 4:1-17; Psalm 118:19-29; Proverbs 28:3-5 In the final paragraph of today’s reading from James, we can picture a businessman standing over a map—pointing out a spot to his associates:  Here is where the Romans are developing a new community.  We need to invest quickly in trade and land speculation.We’ll make a fortune in the first year.  But then James breaks in:There is ...  Read More

Ezekiel 39:1-40:27; James 2:18-3:18; Psalm 118:1-18; Proverbs 28:2 A critical skill in reading the Bible is correlation. Correlation is what allows us to take the pieces of the Bible and put them together into one seamless puzzle. Since all of the Bible is true and God-breathed, it never contradicts itself and all fits together. In Ezekiel, we read about the destruction of the armies of Gog and Ma...  Read More

Ezekiel 37:1-38:23; James 1:19-2:17; Psalm 117:1-2; Proverbs 28:1 When have you felt deep despair? Is there a time when you didn’t feel like you could go on? A time when you felt like throwing in the towel.Ezekiel is given a picture of a seemingly hopeless Israel. The nation is pictured as a pile of dead bones, and it seems there is no future for the nation. Then God tells him to prophesy over the...  Read More

Ezekiel 35:1-36:38; James 1:1-18; Psalm 116:1-19; Proverbs 27:23-27 There are some passages in the Bible that cause us to scratch our heads; they are difficult to understand. And other verses, while clear in meaning, can be even much more difficult to act on. For example, James 1:2 tells us to "consider it pure joy … whenever you face trials of many kinds." The meaning of the command is clear, but...  Read More

Ezekiel 33:1-34:31; Hebrews 13:1-25; Psalm 115:1-18; Proverbs 27:21-22 John Maxwell says that a leader is someone who “knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way” and every one of us is called to be a leader. The only question is whether we are leading effectively or not.Ezekiel uses two images to describe leadership. He first describes leaders as watchmen who see what is coming and share this...  Read More

Ezekiel 31:1-32:32; Hebrews 12:14-29; Psalm 113:1-114:8; Proverbs 27:18-20 Water, like a mirror, reflects our physical image.  And, in the second proverb at the end of our reading, we’re told that our life—our behavior—also reflects our hearts (27:19).  The simplicity of this proverb could take us in one of two directions.  It could be that my behavior reveals my heart to myself.  When we take an ...  Read More

Ezekiel 29:1-30:26l; Hebrews 11:32-12:13; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 27:17 Christianity is personal but not private. When we enter into a relationship with Christ we also enter into a relationship with his family. Hebrews 11 has described the community of faith that we are a part of, and chapter 12 describes what difference this community should make in our lives. Notice even those who have followed...  Read More

Ezekiel 27:1-28:26; Hebrews 11:17-31; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 27:15-16 Pride is an insidious disease within our hearts. It can cause us to insulate ourselves from God and believe that we can falsely save ourselves. We need to learn to break through this self-reliance and walk by faith.Ezekiel points us to the foolishness of Tyre’s pride. They relied on their wealth, wisdom, and position in the wo...  Read More

Ezekiel 24:1-26:21; Hebrews 11:1-16; Psalm 110:1-7; Proverbs 27:14 What is the most quoted psalm in the New Testament? You may think it is a cherished psalm like Psalm 23 or maybe the longest psalm, Psalm 119--and you would be wrong. The most quoted psalm is Psalm 110. It is only seven verses but points to Jesus as our king, priest, and judge.Christ is king. Verse 1 shows David's understanding tha...  Read More

Ezekiel 23:1-49; Hebrews 10:18-39; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 27:13 "What do you want"? When kids are young and unable to fully verbalize what they want, parents can find themselves asking this question often. Kids often respond by pointing, with grunts, and sometimes with screams and tears. Even at a young age, when someone wants something and is motivated to acquire it, there is little you can do ...  Read More

Ezekiel 21:1-22:31; Hebrews 10:1-17; Psalm 108:1-13; Proverbs 27:12“That’s mean!” declared one of our little boys in a roar of indignation as his beloved stuffed animal was temporarily taken away as punishment for wrongdoing. “Whose choice was it?” my husband and I asked, so wanting our little one to understand. After a moment, he murmurs, “Mine,” voice meeker, eyes downcast, realizing his own act...  Read More

Ezekiel 20:1-49; Hebrews 9:11-28; Psalm 107:1-43; Proverbs 27:11We worship a patient God. This may seem like a strange way to think about God but as Ezekiel and many other parts of Scripture, point out God is abundantly patient.Ezekiel describes a series of moments when God was patient towards Israel rather than responding in judgment. He rescued them from Egypt and despite their rebellion, he wit...  Read More