Honoring God
Jesus Teaches about True Worship
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)
Perseverance in Prayer
Ezekiel 36:22-28 The Message
22-23 “Therefore, tell Israel, ‘Message of God, the Master: I’m not doing this for you, Israel. I’m doing it for me, to save my character, my holy name, which you’ve blackened in every country where you’ve gone. I’m going to put my great and holy name on display, the name that has been ruined in so many countries, the name that you blackened wherever you went. Then the nations will realize who I really am, that I am God, when I show my holiness through you so that they can see it with their own eyes.
24-28 “‘For here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land. I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You’ll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You’ll be my people! I’ll be your God!
For Reflection
God, our Lord,is sovereign. God will tolerate the worship of no other gods. The people of Isreal knew this, and yet they forsook the God of their origin. God's will for Isreal was that they would choose to be obedient and worshipful. God wanted all people to know God and to become fulfilled in God's promised peace.
So once again, God redeemed God's people. God will cleanse them, place the Spirit into their souls, and establish a yearning for reconciliation and joyful commitment to God. God did not decree that they love him. Instead, he gave them a choice. To follow the spirit within them or to ignore God's presence in their lives. God doesn't want puppets. God wants all people to choose God. God gave them the freedom to do so.
Pray
Pray and contemplate your choice to worship God and follow Jesus.
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