Month: August 2025

Ezekiel 1:25-28 (MSG). And then, as they stood with folded wings, there was a voice from above the dome over their heads. Above the dome there was something that looked like a throne, sky-blue like a sapphire, with a humanlike figure towering above the throne. From what I could see, from the waist up he looked like burnished bronze and from the waist down like a blazing fire. Brightness everywhere! The way a rainbow springs out of the sky on a rainy day—that’s what it was like. It turned out to be the Glory of God!

Observation

Wings with hands under them, wheels full of eyes, fire and lightning all around – these are the only words, the only description, that Ezekiel can use to try to explain the Glory of God to those who have not experienced personally or seen it with their own eyes. Our analytical minds struggle to picture it. We want to “see” what he describes, to put it all in perspective, to make it fit into our box of understanding.  This is so human of us, so much a part of how we assimilate our experiences and deal with the world around us.  We want to know where we are going or, at least, know what is coming along the way so we can plan ahead and be prepared to face and overcome any unknowns. 

Ezekiel is doing his best, but his descriptions are confusing, and they leave us unsatisfied, without a clear picture, because the glory of God is indescribable, unfathomable, one of those “you had to be there” experiences that cannot be shared with words.  As a prophet, Ezekiel was asked to be a sacrifice, a spectacle, a watchman on the wall, one who warns of coming danger, the red alert for those who might wake up to see, to hear, to heed and return to God.  God asked him to be a spectacle, to stand up and oppose the king, to put his life at risk. Perhaps he was given this unforgettable, indescribable, overwhelming experience to erase all his questions, objections and doubts about being faithful and committed to do whatever lay ahead that his God asked of him.

Impact on Me

It is truly impossible to convey the full impact of a miracle or other supernatural experience to someone who was not there and did not share in the experience.  I have tried unsuccessfully.  In 2005, I was privileged to experience God’s glorious presence and miraculous power as He took two groups of wounded people and merged them to create a beautiful community of seasoned saints ready and willing to serve.  For all who experienced this miracle, the pathway was long, rocky and difficult leading up to the crossroads where suddenly and spectacularly the miracle became evident, the destination sure, the outcome visible and tangible.  Like Ezekiel’s experience, it was a time when we let this overwhelming Glory of God invade our lives, turning seeming impossibilities into realities. This experience displayed God’s majesty, power, glory, grace, timeliness, timelessness and “eyes on me” in ways that are indescribable.

Miracles of this sort – if we remember to celebrate and live in them – also help us to erase our objections and questions when it comes to choosing to obey God in difficult times. On my side of this journey to the crossroads, there were plenty of opportunities to stop, turn around or choose side trips of reacting according to my flesh rather than moving forward by responding according to God’s word.  I learned the pain and humiliation of turning the other cheek and praying for and walking in forgiveness toward my enemy.  Jesus was faithful to walk with me and, when I wandered, gently but firmly lead me back to the right path, urging me to look down the road ahead and humbly follow Him. 

As I stood at the crossroads of the miracle on that first day, I recognized that the trip had changed me, grown me, strengthened me, clarified my purpose, weeded out judgment replacing it with seeds of mercy. I became truly grateful for my Savior Who made the transition possible. I learned that, when I trust Him more than my human nature, the troubles and difficulties of the current moment will always be working His will and purpose in me, strengthening me, preparing me, equipping me.  I have stopped trying to make God fit into my box, my expectations, my plans, and strive to let Him be in charge of where I am, what I do, and how much benefit He will gain from the price He asks me to pay.

Devotion

Lord Most High, Almighty God, Father, Savior, Lover of my soul, I worship and adore You.  You are the One Who loves me and will lead me with the same everlasting love when I obey or disobey, when I praise or whine, when I wander off or follow closely.  I remember when You brought two groups out of deep darkness and turmoil into Your glorious light.  Even though we thought all was lost, You were leading us straight to Your presence, Your glory, Your crossroads bathed in Your light.  Let me never forget to celebrate and live in the knowledge that Your glory is available on the journey as I walk out my calling to fulfill my part in Your eternal plan.  Romans 8:28 Phillips Moreover we know that to those who love God, who are called according to his plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good.  In Jesus’ name, make it so.

Romans 2:28-29 (Phillips)  I have come to the conclusion that a true Jew is not the man who is merely a Jew outwardly, and a real circumcision is not just a matter of the body.  The true Jew is one who belongs to God in heart, a man whose circumcision is not just an outward physical affair but is a God-made sign upon the heart and soul, and results in a life lived not for the approval of man, but for the approval of God.

Romans 12:1-2 (Phillips)  With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

Observation

The charge in Romans 2 has not changed and applies to anyone who considers him or herself a child of God today.  We can’t be Christian in name only, acting pious in the company of other Christians, but no different than the world around unbelievers.  We shame God and make a mockery of the Gospel if we do.  Out of the abundance of the heart, each mouth will speak but his/her words must reflect how each one acts.  Having our words and deeds match matters.  As Jesus warned the pious-only-in-public religious leaders of His time, every careless (false, deceptive) word will come back to haunt you  (Matt 12:34-37 MSG).         

So, looking good is not good enough.  We have to be molded in righteousness by the hand of God Himself.  “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within…”.  Our actions and words need to flow from a heart and soul handcrafted and fired by God, imprinted with the very fingerprints of God Himself.   That inward circumcision, a sign of commitment and belonging to God, needs to be evident in the way we live our lives and be reflected in our deeds, consistently everywhere and always.  This includes the transparency and submission of repentance for when we fail, letting our humanity lead us into temptation and sin.

Impact on Me

This openness and submission to living in the safety of His Presence is the true worship Paul was speaking of in Romans 12.  The ache of his heart is that we will commit “as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him.”  Worship is meant to be 24/7, arising from the assurance of the permanence of my adoption, motivated by my heart of gratitude, not driven by duty, tradition, or what others will think of me.  It should not be something I feel I owe but rather a precious gift I recognize that I am privileged and honored to be able to give.  True worship will flow from a mind remolded into the mind of Christ. 

The King of Kings has His eyes on me (and you).  It is almost unfathomable to really embrace that He sees each of us as an individual person, a precious child.  I find it hard to fathom that the Creator of the universe would even know my name, much less die for me.  He owes me nothing.  I am at fault for my predicament, my circumstances.  He could have left me unredeemed, but chose to reclaim me.  He did the same for you!  Those who are circumcised of the heart live a life of true worship, and their circumcision is evident to all.

Devotion

Lord God, Almighty, Omniscient, yet still the Father of Mercy, and our Savior, I offer the gift of my worship.  Forgive me for the times I fail, when my fear or pride distracts me from putting Your plan, Your will and purpose, first in my life.  I want to walk in the footsteps You place before me, wandering neither to the left or right of Your pathway of righteousness.  Keep Your hand on me to draw me back to Your side when I am tempted to stray.  I pray this all in Jesus’ name.  Make it so.

Psalm 149:1-4 ESV Praise the Lord!  Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the godly!  ² Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!  ³ Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!  ⁴ For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; He adorns the humble with salvation.

Psalm 42:10-11 NIVSing to the Lord a new song, His praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.  ¹¹ Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice.  Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops.

Observation

When we first surrender and embrace the sacrifice Jesus made for us, a new song rises like the water from an artesian well.  An artesian well is one that brings deep water to the surface without the help of a pump because the water is under pressure in an aquifer (a deep reservoir).  Jesus replaces the old sin-filled reservoir with His new life-giving water. To me, this is like that first experience of the release of all the sin, guilt, fear, and sorrow that held us captive.   A new song of praise, joy and freedom gush from the aquifer of the new Spirit of Christ in us.  Our expectations about this new life and what it will be like soar like the water gushing up from the artesian well. 

It is then that the Enemy comes and begins his work of stealing, killing and destroying.  He whispers to us, “If God is so good, how do you explain this (pain, death, sickness, the ravages of war, and so on)?”  “If God is so good, why doesn’t He stop all of this suffering and make your life easy and painless?  See, He doesn’t really care about you!”  “Do you really think that a holy God would forgive and adopt YOU after all that you have done?”  Satan will do all he can to get us to silence the new song and blame God for all the evil that Satan perpetrates upon humankind – and he is very good at deceiving us.   If he can’t get us to blame God for the evil, he will get us to become angry at God for not preventing it.  Satan is sly and skillful at deception.

Impact on Me

So, these verses are about the new song that we receive when we embrace salvation and begin the redemption process.  It is a song of joy, praise and the new life we receive.  It is a song for all circumstances – good and bad. The temptation when difficulty arises is to revisit my old life song of sin, shame, sorrow and defeat – a song written when I lived outside of the unforced rhythms of grace, hope and faith provided by a life in Christ.  I remind myself that Jesus told His disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV).

So, Jesus never promised me that following and serving Him would be easy.  He said to take up my cross, to turn the other cheek, to love my enemies, to forgive 70×7, to go the extra mile, to wash other’s feet, to love as He loves (1 Cor 13) – all the while singing my new song of salvation.  He wants me to sing this new song while humbling myself and becoming a sacrifice to bring about His will and purpose in my life. The only way this is possible is that He also promised to go with me, to never leave or forsake me, to provide me faithfully with the Holy Spirit as teacher, comforter, strengthener, advocate, protector and so much more.

Devotion

Lord Jesus, I rejoice in You, the One True God, Almighty, Eternal, Who loved me so much that You sacrificed Yourself to redeem me and fill me with a new song full of grace, love, redemption and peace.  It is remarkable that You want me to be part of Your work here on Earth. I want to be an artesian well of Your joy, peace, love and power so that others will find salvation, healing and deliverance because they meet You in me.    When difficult circumstances arise, may I run to You as my shelter and strength all the while singing that new song You have placed in my soul.  Let me never grow tired of singing Your praise.  “Praise the Lord!  Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the godly!”  Make it so, in Jesus’ name.