Ezek 14:12-16:41 | PS 106:1-12 | Prov 27:4-6 | Heb 7:18-28
Every human relationship bestowed upon us by God is a much smaller microcosm of our bigger relationship with Him. Marriage between man and woman is but a mere reflection of our relationship as the Bride of Christ with our Bridegroom, Jesus. Parenthood between parent and son is a mere reflection of our relationship as God's children to our Father, God. We must remember that these relationships are not given simply because we exist, being God's creation does not make you God's child unless you submit to Him as Father. Being the Bride of Christ does not happen because you go through a few rituals, or were raised by Christian parents, it is a decision made once you are accountable and able to make a decision on your own, when you choose to repent of your sins, accept His payment on the cross, and submit to Him as Lord. Sadly, we fancy ourselves so much more. We falsely believe we bring so much more to the equation, being better than we really are. But for His grace and mercy we would be utterly lost, and may we never forget this.
Look at God's description of His adopting the Israelites, as we read in Ezekiel 16:4-6, "On the day you were born, no one cared about you. Your umbilical cord was not cut, and you were never washed, rubbed with salt, and wrapped in cloth. No one had the slightest interest in you; no one pitied you or cared for you. On the day you were born, you were unwanted, dumped in a field and left to die. “But I came by and saw you there, helplessly kicking about in your own blood. As you lay there, I said, ‘Live!’" Though they had nothing to offer Him, we read further in 16:8, "And when I passed by again, I saw that you were old enough for love. So I wrapped my cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared my marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine." He goes on to describe just how much He lavished upon, not that they deserved or earned anything, simply out of love. We see their response in 16:15-17, "But you thought your fame and beauty were your own. So you gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came along. Your beauty was theirs for the asking. You used the lovely things I gave you to make shrines for idols, where you played the prostitute. Unbelievable! How could such a thing ever happen? You took the very jewels and gold and silver ornaments I had given you and made statues of men and worshiped them. This is adultery against me!" Utterly forgotten, completely wrapped up in self, we read in 16:22, "In all your years of adultery and detestable sin, you have not once remembered the days long ago when you lay naked in a field, kicking about in your own blood."
Though our human relationships are not as pure as our heavenly ones, the imperfect beings that we are, there is a reason why the fifth commandment prohibits dishonoring your mother and father, and there is a reason why God hates divorce. When born are we not just as defenseless as described above? If we can't humble ourselves before those we can see and touch here on earth, and learn to respect them for who they are, how can one learn to humble themselves before God whom they can't currently touch or feel. Everyone must make their own decision. Our righteousness cannot be wrapped in our family, our church, or our denomination, as clearly stated in Ezekiel 14:14, "Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves, says the Sovereign Lord." So. we can pretend that those around us are in relationships with God that they are really not, or we can be honest, fulfilling our Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 with the boldness and conviction illustrated in Proverbs 27:5-6, "An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy."
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: