EZEKIEL is a in the Testament part of the Bible. 600 years before Jesus. In “exile” — captured by the Babylonians and taken to Babylon with 10,000 other captives. Jews and ancient Christians all knew he spoke on behalf of God!
What’s your for your life?
- Be your own
- Trust in THE .
Jesus said the road is that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-34)
Jesus AND Ezekiel say that God is trying to help us have a vision and way of living that leads to .
Does God enjoy and want us to suffer judgment and be punished and destroyed? .
But, God is Gracious, Compassionate, Loving, Slow to anger savior-forgiver all-powerful, righteous, just, terrifying Judge.
Ezekiel 5 and Leviticus 26 and Matthew 5:22 and Matthew 5:29 and Matthew 10:28 all declare this, from the perspective of Moses AND Ezekiel AND Jesus!
In Isaiah 53:5 we see that the prophet Isaiah declared the Savior (Jesus) would be punished for and by wounds are healed!
In the New Testament book of Romans, the Jewish Law expert Paul who believed Jesus was the Messiah Savior said that now thanks to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, those who belong to Jesus because they trust in Jesus have condemnation — and instead have been from the power of sin that leads to death!
OUR DECISION, THEN:
Will we be our own god?
OR, will we trust in THE God?
If our vision for our life is to trust in THE God, then we can truly LOVE , LOVE , and BOTH.
VERSES THAT HELP EXPLAIN THIS VISION:
When asked what the most important commandment was, He said:
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” – John 13:34
And Jesus said, in Matthew 20:28 that he “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Discussion and Reflection Questions:
- How good of a person are you?
- Describe what it would be like for your friends, family, coworkers – everyone who knows you – to sit and watch a recording of everything you’ve ever done, everything you’ve ever thought, and every situation where you could have done something good and you didn’t?
Read Isaiah 53 and Romans 8:1-9 and Matthew 20:28
- What do you want to tell Jesus that is the truth about your life – what you’ve done, what you’ve said, what you’ve left undone?
- What would God think of you if you told Jesus everything you just determined would be the truth?
PRAYER: “Jesus, here’s the truth about me – I tell it now:
And Jesus, I turn to you, to trust you to be the vision for my life. Save me. Lead me by your Spirit to love like Jesus loved, as I love God and love my neighbors and serve both. Amen!”