MY SHEEP
Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 34-35
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Sheep grazing in Israel. There are two sheep dogs in this picture. One is up front. Can you find the other one among the sheep. Someone has suggested that “goodness and mercy” are the two sheep dogs of Psalm 23, charged with protecting the sheep. In today’s reading, Ezekiel 34, God promises to gather, feed and care for His people as a shepherd would his sheep.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Ezekiel 34:11, 13
For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and search them out…And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.”
Because of unfaithful and self-centred leaders, the shepherds of Israel, God’s people, have fallen into the hands of their enemies and have been scattered, and the land God gave them has been desecrated. In Ezekiel 34, God, through Ezekiel, rebukes the leaders. They were to lovingly guide and build the nation in a responsible manner. The opposite was true. This resulted in God backing off until the offending generation of “shepherds” had passed off the scene, and new leaders such as Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah became the shepherds of Israel. God, Himself, assures those in Babylonian captivity, through Ezekiel, that He personally will be their Shepherd, bringing them back to good pasture on the mountains of Israel. Ezekiel reminds the people of the great shepherd king, David, who had died hundreds of years before. There is a descendant of David who referred to Himself as “The Good Shepherd!” Read John 10:11-15 for a New Testament meditation.
Ezekiel 35 shows God’s desire to turn around for good the people of Mt. Seir. These are Edomites, descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob (whose name God changed to “Israel”). Edom, too, shall know Who is the true Shepherd…”that I am the Lord” (35:15b).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, as one of Your sheep, I pray that I will, as Jesus said, recognize Your voice and follow You closely. I’m experiencing Your promised “showers of blessing!” (34:26b). May I never stray away from You, Good Shepherd. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
An excellent biography writer I’ve been reading lately is Eric Metaxas. He has written a number of books about various “shepherds” who have helped to lead people in the right direction. One of his books, Amazing Grace, is the story of William Wilberforce, the man God used to free the slaves throughout the British Empire. The publication of this book brought him to Canada as a guest on the 100 Huntley Street program. Again, he traveled to Canada for a TV appearance regarding his book, Bonhoeffer, the German Pastor who stood up to Hitler and exposed the evils of his regime. Click here for info about Eric’s books, which I highly recommend!
Yours for communicating the Good News of Jesus in the most effective way possible to new generations of precious never-dying souls, all of whom need Jesus,
David
Amen to David’s prayer and message about William Wilberforce. We all need You, Jesus. You are our light and our salvation. We love You with all of our hearts. God’s blessings upon you, fellow saints.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers, March 11th:
“Though it tarry, wait for it.” We cannot attain to a vision, we must live in the inspiration of it until it accomplishes itself. We get so practical that we forget the vision. At the beginning we saw it but did not wait for it; we rushed off into practical work, and when the vision was fulfilled, we did not see it. Waiting for the vision that tarries is the test of our loyalty to God. It is at the peril of our soul’s welfare that we get caught up in practical work and miss the fulfilment of the vision.
“Watch God’s cyclones. The only way God sows His saints is by His whirlwind. Are you going to prove an empty pod? It will depend on whether or not you are actually living in the light of what you have seen. Let God fling you out, and do not go until He does. If you select your own spot, you will prove an empty pod. If God sows you, you will bring forth fruit.
“It is essential to practise the walk of the feet in the light of the vision” (1 John 1:17.)
Welcome Holy Spirit with lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPyqkFWqwTE
We don’t ‘see’/perceive the long waits that God’s biblical servants had for there is nothing noteworthy about ‘waiting’.While waiting on God we are practising our trust in Him and showing our faith.This is water to our faith.Always appreciate your comments,Beverlee.Blessings
Trust Me
Trust Me,I know what I am doing,
It’s not just your heart I am wooing
But your soul is so dear to Me,
I want you with Me for eternity.
Even when your days are very bad,
I share the load that makes you sad,
So do not be angry with Me,
You must trust in Me eternally.
I love all my children most dearly,
And in life I see you clearly,
That is why you are on the Earth,
It is a school and the grave is your birth.
‘I knew you before you were born’,
I would never leave you forlorn,
I know every hair on your head,
Death is not for you to dread.
Life is through my precious Son,
A reward for when your day is done,
So know that this is my gift to you
As you trust Him your life through.
G W (Bill) Marshall/.2011
Thanks Bill. Oswald Chambers is one of my favourites. Waiting on God and His timing is the hardest thing to do, even if it is a testament to our faith and trust in Him. I struggle with that in everything I am dealing with in life right now–waiting for the next back surgery, next move, dealing with the physical pain, trying to focus on finishing my book, giving up things that have been very painful at church to overcome and being happy there. Letting go of it all to trust in Him and deepen my faith is all I can do but I have not done it easily and struggle with it over and over again each day. I fall victim to my human sinful, prideful nature. I know I am not alone but am so hard on myself for not doing a better job in terms of trust and faith in my awesome God.
Dear Beverlee,
You are such an inspiration to me!
We have never met but your openness and honesty and insightful comments are inspiring!
I am sorry to hear that you are in pain and facing surgery, may God bless you and give you healing and strength!
Please don’t be to hard on yourself… Jesus paid it all.
Thank you Anne for that wonderful reminder of our Saviour’s love. God bless you for your kindness.
Thank You, Father God, for not leaving us to ourselves and our own insights or those of false teachers. Thank You for being our shepherd, leading, guiding, and protecting us. Thank You for coming for us personally; for Your Holy Spirit presence in our lives. Thank You for all Your faithful ones. Help each one to go where You send them, and please fill each one with Your Holy Spirit, so Your light will shine everywhere in this dark world. We ask that You help each of Your children to be faithful to You, Lord, and help each one to use the gifts You have given, all for Your glory. In Jesus’s great name, amen
Amen
Amen Rob.
Inspired by David’s message and prayer today as well. Thank you Beverlee and Rob for your message, prayer and song today. Good inspiration to me at this time.
Thought I heard on Bridge City News last night that the government outlawed sexual conversion. Hope this is true and our praying was not in vain which it never is. God bless you saints.
Thanks for that news,Ger.May God strengthen you and bless you with renewed energy.
Amen
Just heard that was conversion therapy.
Yes, banning conversion therapy is the new thing Trudeau is trying to push through, Ger. I prayed about that in our prayer group, this afternoon. Something is disturbing.
“Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of trying to change an individual’s sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual using psychological or spiritual interventions.”
“Federal legislation to crack down on anti-gay conversion therapy could weed out Manitoba church groups sending children to Mexico for that practice.
“The federal Liberals tabled a bill Monday that would ban counselling children to change their gender identity or sexual orientation, and advertising such services to adults.
“It would also expand Criminal Code provisions which already bar taking children abroad to be married or put into sex work, to include a ban on sending them abroad for conversion therapy.”
What next?! Lord HELP!!! protect our children, in Your Mighty Name, Jesus, I pray, AMEN
Amen Ger and Irene! Lord protect our children, please.
The numbers for coronavirus are staggering.
109,000 cases confirmed globally; 3,800 deaths; 81,000 of these are in China;
US 22 have died; 19 in Washington, 2 in Florida, 1 in California;
CANADA has 42 confirmed cases in Ontario; 7 in Quebec and 14 in Alberta.
British Columbia has 39 cases with 1 death.
Lord God, You are our healer and we call to You with urgent prayer for help in this matter. We cannot do this without You, Lord. We need Your intervention on earth to stop this dreaded virus from spreading any further. We cry to You, Abba Father, and to the Ruach breath of life of the Holy Spirit, to bring a wave of healing across the globe and stillness into people’s hearts and homes. Give Your people strength, Lord. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
Amen Beverlee
Amen to your prayer Beverlee!
Yes, Father, in Jesus Name, protect Your children from abuse of any kind and from the Corona virus. A doctor in Burlington who saw patients yesterday in Hamilton, came down with the virus & is in isolation now. My daughter-in-law is still in Florida after the funeral of her lovely sister. Please pray for safe return. Thank you.
Praying for the safe return of your sister from Florida, Doreen. God keep her well, where she needs to be, before traveling home. Watch over her and protect her. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Yes, Amen