Monday, March 14, 2016

GOD’S TEMPLES

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 41-43

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Looking towards the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, you can see an entrance where visitors can go deep into King Solomon’s Quarries, also known as Zedekiah’s Cave. The stones for Solomon’s Temple are believed to have been hewn from this quarry around 970 BC (1 Kings 6:1). As evident in today’s reading, God pays careful attention to detail when giving instructions in the construction of His temples.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verses: Ezekiel 43:5

The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.

 

Twenty-five years had passed since the first captives were brought to Babylon from Jerusalem, and approximately ten years since the magnificent Temple built by Solomon had been totally destroyed. Ezekiel’s vision of a new Temple must have brought much-needed encouragement to the Jewish exiles. Daniel, who became governor of one-third of the Persian empire, would have read Ezekiel’s writings and perhaps had these words in mind as he opened his window three times each day and prayed while looking in the direction of Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10-13). No doubt the content of Daniel’s prayers would have included the rebuilding of the Temple and the return of the glory of the Lord to the Jerusalem Temple. A suggested New Testament reading could be Hebrews 9:6-28.

We, as believers in Jesus, the One of whom John wrote, should be able to say with John, “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14b). In Scripture, we are called God’s temples in which He dwells (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). God, who pays such close attention to the details of a building as described by Ezekiel, surely pays close attention to the building of His human temples. God has a design blueprint for our individual lives, His temples!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, You have a plan for my life, and You are in the construction business. I welcome You to take complete charge of my life, Your temple. I pray that as a “living stone” I’ll not walk away from You as You place me where You want me (read 1 Peter 2:4-7). Lord Jesus, You are the “Chief Cornerstone,” and I pray in Your Name. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve had the privilege of visiting some of the great cathedrals of Europe, marvelling at the overall grandeur and also at the amazing attention to detail. The sculptures depicting Bible stories are everywhere. These visuals taught Bible stories to generations of people who were unable to read the Scriptures for themselves. I think that the construction of the Jerusalem Temples had the same visual purpose. As a 10 and 11-year-old boy, I had a job after school delivering letterhead stationery to Members of Parliament in Ottawa. The print shop would pay me a few cents for each delivery. Up the elevators and down the bannisters I would go, all the time learning from the amazing features of the buildings and sculptures which taught me some of the history of Canada.

There is a great sculpture in the core of Florida’s Southeastern University. My preacher/photographer son, David Reynold, and his wife Kathy leave today for eight months in Uganda from the Tampa, Florida airport. I asked Reynold to take the photo seen below. Click here for a report on the Ugandan efforts of their ministry called World Embrace.

Yours for following God’s detailed plans for all His temples, including each one of us,

David

The Sculpture of “Jesus, the Divine Servant” by Max Greiner, is the focal point in the beautiful garden at South Eastern University, Lakeland, Florida.

21 thoughts on “Monday, March 14, 2016

  1. Praise God we are a living temple of God who has a plan for each one of us I pray His plan is fulfilled in each one of us as we are members of one body and the bride of Christ Jesus
    To God be Glory forevermore Amen

  2. The sculpture is beautiful.
    My husband and I were over to Lakeland a couple of days ago. Nice place. We winter in Zephyrhills about half hour or so from Lakeland. The university sends their students over to our park on Sunday’s to preach at our church held at the clubhouse. There have been wonderful students come and we enjoy them very much. I am still waiting for a young man by the name of David Mainse III, to come. Lol. This year it seems like the person who is supposed to come doesn’t and a replacement has to come. I’m not sure what is up with that. Never had that problem in other years. But that doesn’t matter we are so blessed by those who come.
    For those of you back home in the north, it is very overcast this morning. Sun will probably break out soon enough.
    I did not get my blog this weekend by email. Was so happy to see it here this morning. I’ve become quite the devoted follower. 🙂
    You all have a blessed day. This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.

  3. David Mainse is a Canadian treasure ! I love his helpful blog, Glad he reads the entire Bible, too! Thankful for the wonderful pix on the site every day. Look forward to it –always.Never stop David ! You are to be commended ,once more,for your faithfulness every day with your 100 Words Bible comment and interesting features .
    Thanks,Grace Goheen

  4. Both pictures are Great…thank you Reynold…thank you David for asking Reynold to take a picture of “Jesus the Divine Servant”!

    Agreed in prayer with you, Thank you Lord God, You have a plan for my life…that which You have begone, You are faithful to complete it in me!! Thank you Father, in Jesus Name I pray. Amen!!!

  5. “Spirit of the Living God fall afresh on me, Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me; Spirit of the Living God fall afresh on me!!

    “And the Glory of the Lord, filled the temple”!

    • love the song Irene! I sing/say alot during the day! It is a prayer for me!
      I posted a blog on Saturday night about a concert I attended which was a Concert for a Cure for Juvenile Diabetes Fundraiser!
      One of the performers sang 5-6 songs all using profanity, F,,,U and other degrading words, so I left, told 2 individuals I was not impressed and would not listen to this music anymore.
      Today I tracked down the Canadian Diabetes Association; It is not their doing! I contacted the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, It is not their doing either! BUT it is a 3rd party planned fundraiser; so a person had an idea to raise some money for JD, told them so, this person got a liquor license from the RCMP and found the talent! WELL, the sad part is that the young person singing all the profanity had a lovely voice and I couldn’t help but think he would be an excellent baritone in a Gospel concert! Please pray that the Holy Spirit would call this young man into a choir that would sing praises to God!
      I have learned alot from this experience! Now I have an idea what questions to ask at the next “fundraiser” concert!
      Diabetes is a very serious illness; it changes your life! It also shortens a person;’s life! I pay that a cure will be found soon!

  6. Concern: The 100words.ca blog was skipped on March 10th. I re-registered and receive 2 blogs for March 11 but have not received the daily blog for March 12, 13, 14. Hope someone can help.

    ___________________________

    I was really blessed by the words spoken Matt Tapley of the Lakemount Worship Centre. (in his interview this morning. Just the word of encouragement I needed these days. I joined with David in his prayer knowing God is working out his perfect plan in our lives which sometimes seems to be a long process. Matt said, “Sometimes the process doesn’t look like the promise” just as an apple seed doesn’t instantly become an apple tree. The ‘process’ takes time. So I was reminded again this morning by the Spirit to: “Trust me”. “wait” – allow for the process. Was reminded of all the times the God’s Word tells us to “Wait upon the Lord” including: “Wait upon the Lord and He shall strengthen thy heart” and “Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding”. Words we are so familiar with, but the Spirit brings fresh reminders to our heart. I found myself singing the refrain: “I will trust Thee; I will trust Thee; All my life Thou shalt control”. One can never move too far from “the altar”.. God is fitting all of life’s circumstances into his perfect plan for our lives (Romans 8:28). If you didn’t hear this interview, I would encourage you to tune in. I trust all bloggers will be encouraged today. “God is not finished with us yet”. He continues to mold and make us into a useful vessel..as we continue to be God’s person .. in a needy world – always remaining pliable in his hands. (Isaiah 64:8) NKJV

  7. things have going a bit “wonky” on the internet this past week! the devil is not going to stop this blog! One Word from God sends him running! I would encourage everyone to pray that this blog will continue to uplift everyone and pray that David Mainse will continue to have good health and be able to post his blog every morning!
    OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BY THY NAME! THY KINGDOM COME! THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN! GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD! FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US! AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVEIL, FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY! FOR EVER AND EVER AMEN

  8. Thank you. Mine was in my mail this morning . My senior’s Pastor and his wife were very close to the bombing in Ankara. I praise God that they and they friends are ok.
    Blessings to all.

  9. Amen! Was encouraged by your posting this morning, Samuel. “The process takes time; wait for the process.” Where did you hear this interview?

    • Hi Ger
      John Hall interviewed Matt Tapley, Pastor of Lakemount Worship Centre, on the 100 Huntley Street Program today (Monday, March 14). It was excellent. Was a real blessing to me as it was what I needed. Will listen to it again. I think it is archived and you should be able to hear it again. Blessings. Samuel

Leave a Reply to Samuel Fame Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.