“The Tangible Promises of God”

 

BIBLE READING: Ezekiel 40-42


                As Ezekiel pens these chapters, Israel has already been defeated and Jerusalem lies in ruins.  However, according to God’s previous promises, He cannot leave them.  To solidify his ever-abiding presence, God shows Ezekiel a new Temple.  This temple reveals to them that this exile will not last forever, offering them hope for the future of God’s people.  The interesting thing about this Temple, is that it is not the same Temple that was rebuilt after the exile.  In fact, this is an entirely new Temple.  In describing this Temple, God is awfully specific with its measurements making it seem like something tangible and measurable.  In fact, even though it may seem that this future Temple might be physical, it in fact is symbolic of God’s kingdom in the future.  Even though its description may seem a bit symbolic, it is and will continue to be very real and tangible.   Often God’s promises can seem very fuzzy and abstract.  That may be because we tend to look at those promises as something that will be in the distant future.  It reminds me of the words of Jesus to Martha in John 11 after Lazarus’ death.  “Jesus said to her, Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” (John 11.23-24).  Did Martha believe in the promise of Jesus that her brother would live again?  Of course, she did, just not in the same way that Jesus was implying.  She was too busy looking at the future intent of the promise instead of realizing the tangible promise of God right in front of her.   We tend to be the same way, in that we look at God’s promises through a future colored lens, only to overlook the tangible promises of God right in front of us.  Consider the tangible things you currently have, a family, a job, a home, food and health. We cannot allow ourselves to forget some of the “niceties” we enjoy like, hot water, hot coffee, cellphones and fantasy football.  Even in today’s current situation with our pandemic and our social/political unrest, God’s people still have worship, brethren, communion, and the complete Word of God at our fingertips.   Sometimes God’s gifts are abstract and fuzzy, but sometimes they are real and tangible.  Let us make sure we do not overlook those gifts from God.

                                                                                                                                                MH

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday - October 4, 2016

Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING:    Genesis 32:22-32 Do you want to be blessed? That sounds like a rhetorical question, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want to be blessed? I guess it really depends on your definition of “blessed.” Many people desire blessings that will make them wealthy or, perhaps, material goods. However, being blessed is not limited to those physical things. In fact, sometimes we can be blessed in the most unusual ways. For instance, in Genesis 32:26, we find Jacob wrestling with what we often call an angel. Within the story, Jacob is overtaking the angel and holding him down; refusing to let go until the angel gives him a blessing. The angel obliges Jacob, but not in the way he might have imagined. The angel changed his name from “Jacob” to “Israel,” but he also did something else. He put Jacob’s hip joint out of socket, causing him much pain and difficulty walking. In part, his blessing had to do with him walking with a limp. How is tha...
Read more

Resolutions: Draw closer to God through study of His word

BIBLE READING: John 14.7 Spend time alone with God’s Word.  Besides the spiritual growth we will gain from study, we will also come to know Him better.  Reading His word brings us in touch with Him.  Jesus tells us in John 14:7 – “If you had known Me, you would have known my Father also.”   Just studying the life of Jesus will help us to know God better.   In seeking God’s help, we can draw closer to Him through prayer, meditation, nature, and study.   “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2  I Tim.4:13,15 - “Give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine… meditate on these things; give yourself wholly to them.”   Regardless of our circumstances we can rely on God’s unchanging character.  God is good. God loves me. God is with me. God knows my problems. God cares. Romans 8:31(b) tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Make a resolution to slo...
Read more

“Examples”

BIBLE READING: Mark 13- Luke 1 DISCUSSION                                                                                   This past week we have read of some great examples in the bible.   We read in Mark 13 about us being ready and being prepared for when Jesus returns.   We need to all stay awake!   In Mark 14 we read of one action having such an impact.   How this woman gave her very best to Jesus because of her love for Him.   In Mark 15 we read of Pontius Pilate and his desire to keep his power.   He loved his power and did not want to give it up even if that meant sending an inno...
Read more