“Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any other wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest?“
Ezekiel 15:2The vine here refers to the people of God. But the question was asked: Why are they by nature better than others? Wasn’t it the goodness of God that caused them to be fruitful? What would they be without Him? Who would they become without the continual influence of the Spirit in them?
There was a certain rich man in the Gospel of Luke whose ground had yielded plentifully. As a result, he thought of pulling down his barns to build a greater one to store his crops and goods. He thought he would have many years to enjoy life and be merry because of the great harvest he had achieved. God called him a “fool” and he died that day instead. Through that, God wanted to show that man cannot live independent of Him. He alone holds the universe and is the Source of all life. Jesus said the man acted like a fool because he was one who “lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (12:21).
Therefore, as we meditate on this thought, let us learn to reject pride and embrace God’s goodness in humility, seeing that we have no ground for self-boasting. Whatever we are, we have nothing on our own to make ourselves proud. For Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
The more you have, the more you are indebted to God. Let us also consider our origin, looking back to where we came from. We would still be in our sin if God had not transformed us. Consider who you would have become had it not been for His grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). David rightly puts it this way, “My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26). Therefore, let us humble ourselves in the sight of God, knowing that He will lift us up in due course!
2009年11月22日星期日
2009年11月21日星期六
You Are A Witness For God
“In their sight you shall bear them on your shoulders and carry them out at twilight; you shall cover your face, so that you cannot see the ground, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.” Ezekiel 12:6
The Word of God came upon Ezekiel regarding the approaching captivity of Zedekiah, king of Judah. He was faced with a tough task of convincing his fellowmen that Zedekiah, instead of being their deliverer, would very shortly be taken captive like them. One would think that it might be sufficient if the prophet had only told them the truth in God’s name.
But Ezekiel had to prepare the people for the prophecy by first giving a sign of it; to speak it to their eyes first, and then to their ears. This was because they were a group of stubborn and rebellious people who would not take heed if no deep impression was made upon them. As such, Ezekiel had to speak to them through his own life.
To make a lasting impression, Ezekiel deliberately moved his entire household during the day in front of all the people, and left the city through a hole he dug by himself. He had to carry all his possessions upon his own shoulders, and steal away at evening in their sight, with fear and trembling, covering his face as if being ashamed of being seen or known. By doing so, Ezekiel was making himself a “sign” to the people.
Ezekiel’s prophecy was a reflection of how Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and his people would be led away into captivity. They would make a vain attempt for escape, but would nevertheless end up in captivity. In the same way that Ezekiel had carried his possessions and goods upon his own shoulders, Zedekiah would do likewise. He would be made a prisoner and be carried captive into Babylon.
Ezekiel’s life speaks of ready obedience to the orders of God. As a minister of God, he was willing to go through the most difficult and inconvenient tasks. He serves as an example for us to:
(1) Obey with cheerfulness every command of God, even if it is most inconvenient;
(2) Do all we can for the saving of the souls of others; (3) Allow ourselves to be affected by those things we desire to affect others. Your life is often a testimony and a sign for people around you. Jesus says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Jesus didn’t say you will do witnessing, but He said you will be witnesses. When others see your good works, they will glorify your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16).
Jesus demonstrated the righteousness of God and His love for us when He shed His blood on Calvary’s cross. Therefore let us avail ourselves as Jesus did, to serve not ourselves, but others.
The Word of God came upon Ezekiel regarding the approaching captivity of Zedekiah, king of Judah. He was faced with a tough task of convincing his fellowmen that Zedekiah, instead of being their deliverer, would very shortly be taken captive like them. One would think that it might be sufficient if the prophet had only told them the truth in God’s name.
But Ezekiel had to prepare the people for the prophecy by first giving a sign of it; to speak it to their eyes first, and then to their ears. This was because they were a group of stubborn and rebellious people who would not take heed if no deep impression was made upon them. As such, Ezekiel had to speak to them through his own life.
To make a lasting impression, Ezekiel deliberately moved his entire household during the day in front of all the people, and left the city through a hole he dug by himself. He had to carry all his possessions upon his own shoulders, and steal away at evening in their sight, with fear and trembling, covering his face as if being ashamed of being seen or known. By doing so, Ezekiel was making himself a “sign” to the people.
Ezekiel’s prophecy was a reflection of how Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and his people would be led away into captivity. They would make a vain attempt for escape, but would nevertheless end up in captivity. In the same way that Ezekiel had carried his possessions and goods upon his own shoulders, Zedekiah would do likewise. He would be made a prisoner and be carried captive into Babylon.
Ezekiel’s life speaks of ready obedience to the orders of God. As a minister of God, he was willing to go through the most difficult and inconvenient tasks. He serves as an example for us to:
(1) Obey with cheerfulness every command of God, even if it is most inconvenient;
(2) Do all we can for the saving of the souls of others; (3) Allow ourselves to be affected by those things we desire to affect others. Your life is often a testimony and a sign for people around you. Jesus says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Jesus didn’t say you will do witnessing, but He said you will be witnesses. When others see your good works, they will glorify your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16).
Jesus demonstrated the righteousness of God and His love for us when He shed His blood on Calvary’s cross. Therefore let us avail ourselves as Jesus did, to serve not ourselves, but others.
2009年11月19日星期四
God's Goodness And Mercy
“Yet I will leave a remnant, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries.” Ezekiel 6:8
Judgment had hitherto triumphed, but here in Ezekiel 6:8, mercy rejoices against judgment. God leaves a remnant, a little remnant of the children of Israel. It is purely by God’s grace that they were spared. In other words, they deserved to be cut off from the rest, and they would have been cut off if God had not protected them (Is. 1:9). Why did God preserve a remnant of the people of Israel? Let’s understand it from two perspectives.
1) They are a preserved remnant. This remnant would be the seed of another generation, out of which Jerusalem would flourish again. In the midst of God’s wrath, mercy is remembered. There is a mixture of judgment and mercy here. There was judgment because they were carried away as captives to a foreign land. Yet mercy was present because they escaped the sword in the land of their captivity. We see this same principle repeating itself again and again regarding God’s dealings with His people, that in judgment, God always remembers mercy.
2) They are a penitent remnant. God is merciful. He gives us time to repent. This remnant here, marked for salvation, is a type of the remnant reserved out of the body of mankind to show forth God’s mercy. God was using them to show His salvation through man’s repentance. Sin takes place when we start forgetting God in our lives (Jer. 3:21). Repentance takes place when we begin to remember who God is, His love for us and His promises to us.
In Ezekiel 6:9, God says the remnant will remember Him. They could only do so by the grace of God. That grace shall find them out wherever they are, and by bringing God to their minds, “they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations” (6:9).
As with the prodigal son, we see how he came back to the father when he remembered how the servants in his father’s house had enough bread to eat. And when he returned, he was met with a loving and merciful father who embraced and restored him to his rightful place. God in his mercy is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). Let us not glory in our own strength, but in the mercy and grace of God, without which, we are nothing. “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4). God in His mercy laid on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, the iniquity of us all (Is. 53:6). Let us be thankful once again, that it is God’s goodness and mercy that leads us to repentance.
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