Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Ezekiel 46 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

Ezekiel 46:9

“When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed festivals, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which they entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate.” 

 

Upon first read, this verse sounds a little like the world we live in today, with social distancing—one way in and one way out, and in some ways, that might be true. But what the Holy Spirit revealed to me is that this verse is a picture of our life. When we come into the Presence of the Lord, something should change, and we can’t turn back around and go backward but have to walk forward in faith and out through a door we didn’t enter from.

 

It’s so crucial when we have that experience with Jesus that we don’t just enjoy the show and then turn right around and go back the way we came. Once we meet Him, we are to worship Him, and one of the ways we can do that is by following His commands and not turning back around!

 

Personally, for me, this can be tough sometimes, as I can get stuck in old thought patterns or habits, but that’s where the beauty of Who Jesus is comes into play! He sees and knows everything in my heart and mind and loves me anyway! I’m not saying He approves of it or condones it, but He is so full of mercy and grace that He is willing to help us walk through these times of weakness and sin!

 

He isn’t asking you to save the world (because He already did that), but He is telling you to surrender your world and don’t turn back! Let me tell you that you can leave your pain in the past and find your healing in His hands!

 

Luke 9:62 - Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

 

God bless! I love you all!!! Glory, Honor, Praise, and Majesty to Papa God, Jesus Christ the King, and the Holy Spirit! 

 

 

Ezekiel 46:9

“When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed festivals, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which they entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate.”

This is a part of the regulations given to Ezekiel by the LORD in a vision of the new temple. The Old Testament festivals and times of meeting held different purposes for the people, two of which being times of atonement and times of worship. Keeping that in mind, I see this direction from the LORD being symbolic of how we are to live our lives. When we enter into His Presence to worship Him and are made right with Him, we are not to go back the way we came but are to embark down a new path in and with Him! It is too easy for us to go back the way we came, so we must fight against that urge to return to what He has rescued us from.

Each of us must make a choice when Christ sets us free; will we pursue and serve Him, or will we trample His grace underfoot by indulging the flesh with our sins? This turning around or turning back from Christ ends not with joy and peace but rather with emptiness, brokenness, and remorse. Think of Judas; once the betrayal had been completed, it says he was seized with remorse and went out and ended his life. He had turned back, and it cost him dearly. Let us not follow Judas but instead follow Jesus, who being God in the flesh, did not turn back but pressed on in love, faithfulness, and obedience to the Father.

So today, when you enter into His Presence, do not go back the way you came but leave out the opposite door rejoicing all the way!

Luke 9:62- Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

God bless! I love you all, but His love is waiting in abundance for us this day; will we rest in it? Praise, glory, and honor now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!

 

 

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment