Good morning everyone,

Ezekial 14:22– But behold, some survivors will be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out; behold, when they come out to you, and you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon it

Through the prophet the Lord was giving hope to the remnant of Israel who would survive His judgment. Though the Lord severly judged Israel’s sins, they would be encouraged to see the people who survived become godly people who would no longer put themselves in jeopardy of the Lord’s judgment again.

If you’re a leader of people in some way, parent, etc. you probably know what is like for your heart to ache for people to come out of painful dilemmas. Yet how many of us actually read the Word, pray, and believe God for promises on their behalf, not just our own? I believe there are many times we could be comforted in seeing people change for the best, but because we don’t hold onto promises from God’s Word for others, we miss our own comfort in seeing them change.

The Israelites were a covenant people, so God made their hearts connected to one another (through Him), that would encourage them when other people were at peace with God. I believe the world has this type of connection with their spouses and kids, but the Church should go beyond that, shouldn’t it? Fight the complacency to only be concerned with your family and close friends. So that when you read the Word or pray, that you are standing on promises from God that will eventually encourage you too when they change and become closer to Christ.

In His Love, Ld

On Tue, Dec 18, 2012 at 11:48 AM, eldoret gentry <eldorets> wrote:

Good morning everyone

Ezekiel 16:49-50-Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.

As God was recounting to the children of Israel what He brought them from earlier in the chapter. He talked about how He found them as an unwanted baby with no one to pity them (vs.3-6). But then built them up and blessed them making them beautiful, desirable, and prosperous.

So instead of having gratitude towards God for the abundant blessings He poured out on them, they used there beauty and blessings to serve their idols. It was their pride in what they received from God to blind them from the God who blessed them.

Especially during this season for many of us we literally see how blessed we are, maybe with family coming home and friends gathering together to celebrate a season of gifts, food, and each other. But in such blessings do we forget the real gift of Christ, and how He gave us such gifts to have gratitude and greater faithfulness to Him? Or in our pride do we idolize our image and possessions to live selfishly indulgent and feel entitled to do so? (James 1 vs.17)

In His Love, Ld

On Dec 13, 2012 9:58 AM, "eldoret gentry" <eldorets> wrote: