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Hello my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
This week we’re digging into a very powerful statement from God made 2500 years ago, but it is so very appropriate to August 2020.
I am increasingly disappointed in leadership globally and their prayer-less, God-less response to the Coronavirus pandemic. I am delighted to inform you of a call to prayer by Franklin Graham and others, scheduled for September 26th in Washington DC. More information is available at: prayermarch2020.com
I believe it will be broadcast online thus available to us around the world. Let’s spread the word friends and participate! Finally someone is calling us globally to prayer.
I admit I’m also frustrated by the despicable political climate in the United States. For those of you who are ‘walking with Jesus’ with us and live in countries outside the USA, I want you to know millions of American are ashamed by the manner in which American politicians talk to and about each other with such slander, distorted facts, and often outright lies. Such a contrast to the way God calls us to live as human beings with respect and care for one other!
Yesterday we saw in Ezekiel 36 that God explained WHY He had allowed the Jewish people to be invaded and scattered from their homeland. God also stated “And wherever they went, they profaned my Holy name…I had concern for my Holy name which the people of Israel profaned among the nations (‘ethne’) where they had gone.” (Ezekiel 36:20,21)
I’m not sure we understand how important the integrity of God’s holiness is to HIM, and how concerned God is when HIS people profane His holiness by their words, attitudes and behavior. . . anywhere in the world, in every generation!
So, look around your world today my friends, especially your city and region. How is the Holy Name of God being treated? How is God’s Holy Word the Bible treated? How do people treat churches and cathedrals of worship where you live? Now here’s an important question: what is the difference between how GOD’s people are living and the ‘pagans’ or those who do not claim any relationship with God, are living? We can’t expect darkness to be anything other than dark. But God has very different expectations for His people, everywhere in the world. God expects His people will honor His holy Name, in fact that we will honor HIM in every aspect of our lives. And when we don’t God responds! When we, God’s people, profane God’s holiness, we actually honor Satan, because that is always the devil’s objective. Now think about that.
Remember the core verse we’re digging into this week is Ezekiel 36:23 “Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show Myself Holy through you before their eyes.” So for the rest of this week, let’s dig deeply into HOW God shows Himself Holy through His people, so the ‘pagans’ of our world, those who have no relationship with Holy God, can recognize the difference that God makes in a life?
When God rescued 1 million Hebrew slaves from Egypt in the great Exodus, Moses followed the cloud of God’s Presence and led the people to Mount Sinai. None of them had ever been outside of Egypt, as far as we know. In Exodus 19 & 20 God and the people had their first worship encounter. As you read Exodus 19 look at what they experienced… an earthquake; what appeared to be a volcano; an extremely loud sound like a trumpet, and then finally, the voice of God! Yes, these 1 million people heard the actual voice of God and He spoke His 10 Commandments. Look at Exodus 20:1 “And God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me…” Now friends, just in case you doubt if the people actually heard God’s audible voice, consider Moses’ recounting of this experience to the next generation in Deuteronomy 4:10-18!
I’ve often wondered what that moment was like, as the earth was trembling, the mountain was smoking and on fire, and then this booming voice… GOD was speaking! By the way, He was not speaking English or whatever language you speak. I presume God was speaking ancient Egyptian since the Hebrew slaves had lived in Egypt about 20 generations and knew that language very well. Have you ever thought about that?
Now I invite you to look VERY closely with me at what God said, audibly, to the people that day. First, He made it clear HE was the one responsible for their miraculous deliverance from the inescapable stronghold of Egyptian slavery in which they’d lived for many generations. Then He made it clear HE had been leading them every step to this mountain of encounter. Then His first Commandment for living life as God has designed it to be lived: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” There it is friends, God has laid down the gauntlet, and everyone of us is guilty! We have profaned God and His Holy name whenever we have valued other things or other people more than God!
Then God said: “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on earth below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God…” (Ex. 20:4,5) So what about it? Oh you are probably thinking you’re innocent here, since you’ve never fabricated an idol nor bowed to one. Well, not so fast… Where do you keep your Bible and how often do you open it? How often do you turn on your TV which probably has a prominent place in your home? Or what about your computer? Is it possible both are ‘idols’ in your home and mine, and we open our Bibles a tiny fraction of the amount of time we spend looking into screens?
Then God said: “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.” (Ex. 20:7) mmmmm? How reverently do you say the name Jesus, or God, or Lord God, or Almighty God…or how flippantly? Do our tongues profane the holy name of God sometimes?
And one more… “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God…” (Ex. 20:8-11) What is your understanding of WHY God asks us to set aside one day for emotional and physical rest and refreshment? Why does God prioritize this day for Spiritual restoration and renewal and even revival rather than simply rest? Do you have a Sabbath day weekly and how do you find the rest and refreshment you need?
We understand God designed our bodies needing air, water, food, exercise and rest…right? Without any of those we will shrivel up and die. God did the same with our hearts and minds…our emotions and our intellect. But God ESPECIALLY made our Spirits this way! The spiritual part of us is most important and our spirits need refreshment with God EVERYDAY if we are going to remain spiritually vibrant. Now my friends, it’s important we are honest and serious with ourselves here… have we profaned God in the manner we have neglected or abused “Sabbath”? Here’s another important Scripture to help you with “Sabbath”: Isaiah 58:13,14.
Now my friends all around the world, watch this carefully. These 10 Commandments are NOT intended to be harnesses which tie us down or restrictions making life miserable. These are like the foundation for a building, or pillars supporting a bridge, or anchors for a ship. These are essentials to living life wisely and with fulfillment, by God’s design. When we misuse them, abuse them or avoid them, life gets dysfunctional and painful! We’ve all experienced that.
Notice please the first four Commandments God spoke all focus on our relationship with God, because life is rooted there! Living a life that honors God starts right here, in these four powerful pillars of truth! Disregard them, and your spiritual life will starve, and you will for sure PROFANE God! The next six of the 10 Commandments are all about relationships between you and all the people in your life, and we’ll look at them tomorrow.
Now these Hebrew slaves knew only one lifestyle… slavery! They were born into bondage, lived every day in bondage and died in bondage. God was, with these Commandments, re-defining LIFE for them and for all of us. Honoring God with your life starts here, living these faithfully. Profaning God with your life starts here… disregarding them!
I think we should stop right here… if you have a wisdom journal or someplace you write down your important life thoughts, I suggest, with our Bibles open to Exodus 20, each of us takes some personal, private and deeply soul searching time right now, to work through Exodus 20:1-11 and have an honest conversation with God about what our life patterns have been with each of these profoundly important Commandments. Then, consider making some new commitments, some re-orientation of priorities, so your life will be different beginning. . . right now!
Here’s a song that I’ve shared with you before, but it’s so powerful and might help you as you reflect and talk with God today:
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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