I enjoyed a though-provoking Bible study today with 10 men that I barely know.
I was invited last week to this study session at a Vero Beach, Florida country club and was blessed by the event.
So when I attended this week, again at the invitation of a new friend named Paul, I made sure to attend.
We looked at Ezekial 4-5 and engaged in a series of discussions about various facets of the prophetic passage.
The prevailing lesson that emerged for me from the interaction was this — we aren’t approved in God’s sight by the religious name we wear but instead by the godly lifestyle we embrace.
For if we pursue a lifestyle that imitates Him, it’s because we are pursuing a relationship that seeks intimacy with Him.
I want to be this kind of person. I hope you do, too.
Many people wear the name of “Christian” yet their actions indicate a different lord reigns over their hearts — the lord of self.
It was very clear from Ezekial 4-5 that God measures faith by the fidelity of the one claiming belief.
The prophet was sent to tell the people of Judah that punishment was coming because of their idolatry that reached even to the point of their placing false gods in the Jerusalem temple.
Such choices made clear that the most people of Judah didn’t care about God.
For if they had, they wouldn’t have turned their backs on God in favor of turning toward selfishness and poisonous, surrogate gods.
Because of God’s deep-rooted love, He still held out hope for Israel, though.
That’s why He gave them a radical, costly time-out — in the form of the Babylonian exile — that lasted a couple of generations.
God’s desire was that a small remnant of Israelites would get the message that saving faith is shown by surrendered lives striving to serve God, not self.
It wasn’t easy to read this morning of God’s anger toward the Israelites and how that would play out in disastrous consequences.
Yet, the fact that God would restore the remnant of faithful people was greatly encouraging.
It wasn’t easy for God to chastise His children in order to save the nation, just as it is not easy for a loving parent to punish his or her child in order to teach them and save them.
Yet there were the strong words of Ezekial 4-5.
It didn’t have to be that way, of course. The Israelites living in Judah could have chosen better.
They didn’t and they suffered.
Thankfully, some of God’s children didn’t give their hearts over to sin and self.
We have the Bible and the Christian faith as the fruit of their choices.
If God’s Holy Spirit has been calling you toward a more godly lifestyle lately, I pray that you will listen.
It’s very easy to ignore the divine voice while still wearing the label of “Christian.”
Labels don’t save, though.
Surrendered, sanctified hearts given to godly living DO save, though.
Not because of personal purity, but instead because of the evidence such lives provide of a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Please allow Jesus to be Lord of your life, not just your lips.
Your forever will be so much better if you do.
As always, I love you
Martin
