Prayer: Father, today’s scripture is convicting. I know I am guilty of the same behavior. I repent and ask Your forgiveness. Amen.
Reading: Ezekiel 33 key: vs. 30-31 ““Now as for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses. Each one speaks to one another, each saying to his brother: ‘Come now, hear what message is coming forth from Adonai!’ So they come to you, as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words—but they do not do them—for with their mouth they express doting love, but their heart goes after their own dishonest gain.” TLV
Attention: Have you ever observed a teenager discovering love for the first time? Their hearts emotions are all atwitter, caught up in the euphoria of love. It is very strong and compelling. Things are expressed which spring from a well of heart felt emotion. It is well intentioned, transparent, and naïve.
In our relationship with Adonai, we can experience the same disconnect that the Lord expressed through Ezekiel. We can come to worship and express to God our love, well intentioned love, but walk out of worship and fall into the same routines of life separated from God. Have you experienced a fragmented relationship like this with God?
Moses taught the Hebrews to talk about God with their children as they walked; ““Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words, which I am commanding you today, are to be on your heart. You are to teach them diligently to your children, and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. Bind them as a sign on your hand, they are to be as frontlets between your eyes, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).” Their relationship with God was to be a lifestyle of talking about Him, with Him, and loving Him. The base text of the Deuteronomy passage is found in Mark 12:28-30 “One of the Torah scholars came and heard them debating. Seeing that Yeshua had answered them well, he asked Him, “Which commandment is first of all?” Yeshua answered, “The first is, ‘Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. And you shall love Adonai your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’”
The foundational passage for loving God was first declared by Moses and then testified of by Yeshua in the hearing of the Torah scholars. May our words of love not fall to the floor in worship or fall to the ground as we walk out the doors. May our love for God be with all our heart, soul, and mind. May we not be guilty of being doer’s of the word.
Action: I aim to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind.
Yield: I choose to submit to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
Engage: I choose to engage in an all-out love of God, family, and friends.
Relationship: I choose to live with God in submission to His word and Spirit.
Prayer: Father, I blow it all the time. Selfishness shows itself in attitude and anger, which does not “produce righteousness of God.” Help me to master self-control of my emotions. Amen.
Memory Verse: James 1:19-20 “Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger— for human anger doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.” TLV
Music Video: Sanctus Real—Confidence https://youtu.be/SNNTVD_dTxU?si=0Fusf1qsxknkMCfQ
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”