Ezek 21:1-22:31 | PS 108:1-13 | Prov 27:12 | Heb 10:1-17
I have checklists all over the place. These can be good for organization, for staying on task, to avoid forgetting things, but there is a danger in them when it comes to the things of God. Daily reading: check. Weekly church: check. Serving in this or that ministry: check. Whether we realize it or not we are allowing God into specific times and areas and excluding Him from others. We read in Hebrews 10:8-10, "First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time." There was nothing wrong with the animal sacrifices and sin offerings, but if they were today, they too would receive a check on our list. We read that in the New Covenant established by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, it is so much more than lists, it is a call to holiness, a life of holiness, a life in which we don't minimize our walk with God to lists which get checked off, but a life of integration in which there are no lists concerning Him, as we live in Him and integrate Him in every minute of our day, from the mundane task to the time with our family to our time at work. Never without Him.
We read in Ezekiel 22:8-12, "You despise my holy things and violate my Sabbath days of rest. People accuse others falsely and send them to their death. You are filled with idol worshipers and people who do obscene things...They never even think of me and my commands, says the Sovereign Lord." Omitted from the above verses was a list of many specific evil behaviors being practiced by the people (v.10-11). Please understand that during this time the people were both prosperous and religious. The sacrifices never stopped. The holidays were celebrated. The religious leaders were not much different than the populace, as we read in 22:26, "Your priests have violated my instructions and defiled my holy things. They make no distinction between what is holy and what is not. And they do not teach my people the difference between what is ceremonially clean and unclean. They disregard my Sabbath days so that I am dishonored among them." The leaders and people groups like to point at one another with their fingers of blame, much as we do today, as we read in 22:27-28, "Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money! And your prophets cover up for them by announcing false visions and making lying predictions. They say, ‘My message is from the Sovereign Lord,’ when the Lord hasn’t spoken a single word to them." We see the sad conclusion in 22:30, "I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one."
Jesus sold Himself out for us, literally. He made the payment that none of us could for our own sins. Jesus did not check boxes day in - day out to see if He was doing enough. He was immersed in His mission and His mission field. There were really no times off. Even times of pleasure were done so, immersed with the Father and the Spirit. We need to stop approaching God legalistically, figuring out if we are doing enough or not. For what He has done, it will never be enough. We need to include Him into every facet of our lives. "My Heart, Christ's Home", a little booklet written many years ago captures this thought. Don't wake up in the morning, spend your first two hours with Him, and think, "Job, well done". This is a great start to a day which should not end your time with Him until you close your eyes at night. May we be the remnant. May we be those who will stand in the gap.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: