September 30 – Malachi 1-4

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Malachi 1-4. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Today we close out the Old Testament. It has been a long nine months going through the Old Testament. I love the Old Testament. There are so many wonderful stories as well as so many heart breaking stories. I love that throughout God gives hope in the darkest moments of despair. Now for the next four hundred and some years God will be somewhat silent as Israel waits for the coming Messiah. But he does not leave them without a challenge to give fully to Him.

The entire book of Malachi is God challenging the quality of the sacrifices and gifts brought before God. To be frank, their gifts were not that great … “You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.” (Malachi 1:7 NLT) … “You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect. When you give blind animals as sacrifices, is not that wrong?” (Malachi 1:7-8 NLT) … “How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered!” (Malachi 1:10 NLT) This is just a little sample of the strong words God brings against Israel.

Let’s apply these thoughts from God to our giving. What does it look like? Are we giving God our best or what is left? Yesterday I had lunch with a very godly woman whose husband is barely hanging onto life right now because of his health. She made the comment that when he was healthy and involved in his day job that the school he worked for got the best of him. How often does that scenario play out in your relationship with God? How often do we let everything else come before our relationship with God and when we get to Him, we are wiped out, barley giving Him any quality. As we turn to the life saving mission of Jesus tomorrow, let’s contemplate our sacrifices before God. 

September 28 – Nehemiah 8-10

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Nehemiah 8-10. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

I feel blessed. Because of when and where I was born I am able to read God’s word. I was born in an age and culture that values education. I learned from a very early point in life what the markings on paper, when written in English, mean. I am able to read something and comprehend. Because of that, I am able to pick up a Bible and read it. The ability to pick up a Bible is another blessing. I am sitting in my office. In this room I have nine Bibles that I was easily able to look around and count. Many of those are various translations, King James Version, New Living Translation, New International Version (Copyright 1984 & 2011), Contemporary English Version, and the New American Standard Bible. Not only do I have those printed Bible, but I also have at my finger tips electronic copies of those translations and many more on my computer screen and on the Bible App from YouVersion. I am blessed that each day I have the ability and option to read from God’s Word.

That was not the case for the Exiles returning to Judah and Jerusalem. Many probably had the ability to read, but most did not have a copy of the Law – the first five books of the Bible, also known as The Pentateuch, The Torah, and the Law of Moses. When Ezra along with the other priest read and explained the Law to them they were amazed at what it said. What an event to witness that day. The stories of the Bible amaze me many days, but sometimes I find it rather boring because it has been a part of my entire life. But here are the people, most hearing God’s Word’s and commands for the first time.

If nothing else, consider yourself blessed that this morning you could read the Bible out of your choice to do so because of when and where you born. Consider yourself blessed to have at your finger tips many English translations of the Bible to help you get a fuller grasp of God’s Word. Consider yourself blessed to be able to use technology to read God’s Word. Friends, we are truly blessed!

September 27 – Nehemiah 6-7

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Nehemiah 1-5. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

Nehemiah’s discernment is amazing. Throughout all the work on the walls of Jerusalem the builders have faced the threat of an attack. There work blessed by God was not blessed by the non Israelites of the land. The entire time Nehemiah understands the trickery they are trying to lead him astray with. One time he sees through a supposed prophet and shares these words, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No I won’t do it!” (Nehemiah 6:11 NLT) Nehemiah had an amazing level of discernment as leader of the rebuilding project.

Do you have good discernment? Do you pray and ask God to build up your discernment? Do you rely on him for it? Discernment is a wise tool. It will keep us from danger. It will help us avoid costly mistakes. It will help us make the best possible choices for our families, our ministries, and our communities. No matter your ability at discernment there is always room for growth. 

September 26 – Nehemiah 1-5

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Nehemiah 1-5. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

Last night I shared with one of my elders that I was going to be out of town next Thursday afternoon and Friday morning so my brother and I could attend a football game. While I am gone our Sr. Minister will be on a cruise ship on vacation. Friday morning there is a surgery and I asked the elder if he would go to the hospital and have prayer with the man before. He said he would and I confessed to him that I felt guilty asking him to do this because I am going to be out of town for a football game. He looked at me and said, not a problem we are a team, we are here to do this together. I love this man and the other men I am serving with.

Today in our reading we saw the ultimate example of team work. It took a team of people each working on their individual tasks to be able to rebuild the walls. When they were faced with outside pressures, it took even more team effort to protect and build at the same time. Our reading ended reminding us that not only do we need to draw together on the task at hand, but we also have to look out for the best interest of others on our team. Nehemiah was righteously angry that his fellow countryman were charging interest and claiming property of their needy brothers. That was wrong, and fortunately they repented of their sin and misdeeds.

To achieve anything in life, especially in the church, we have to be working together as a team. If not, we will not be successful. I am thankful for the reminder I was given last night that I am working on a team. I love my team. What about you?

September 25 – Ezra 7-10

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Ezra 7-10. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

In our reading today we come to a very tough passage. Ezra is now on scene in Jerusalem. King Artaxerxes’ has sent Ezra back to be a leader of the people. In doing so he gave magnificently to Israel and to God. I love that along the way Ezra acknowledges God presence with them … “Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem this way.” (Ezra 7:27 NIV) This is a lesson we would be wise to practice as we go through life.

When Ezra returns the Temple is built and worship and sacrifices are complete; it is brought to his attention that many men who returned from exile have married women who were not Israelites. This was a grievous problem. The Law of Moses, which Ezra is an expert in, strictly forbids this practice. The reason for this is the invitation of foreign pagan worship amongst the people as well as the mothers worship influence upon their children. In complete and total mourning, Ezra is given a solution from within … lead the men to divorce their wives.

An assembly of the people took place three days later and it was decided that over the next several months

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an investigation would ensue. At the end of this investigation one hundred and thirteen men were found guilty and a divorce was issued. The wife and any children were sent packing. Now this seems incredibly harsh, especially in light of our Christian understanding of divorce. But we must remember what God is doing here in Israel … preparing the way of the Messiah!

Dr. James Smith offers some help in understanding the difficulties of this account …

“First, the major problem being addressed was the religious influence of the mothers on their children. Second, sending away the children with their mothers was less cruel than forcibly separating them from their children. Third, keeping the religion of the Lord pure was the one and only aim of Ezra. Fourth, only by insulating themselves from the sea of pagan influence around them could the religious identity of God’s people be maintained.” [i]

Regardless of the reasons this is still a difficult thing for us to understand. We must remember that spiritual purity is an incredibly important aspect of Jewish life at this point. We can also find some conciliation that there is widespread belief in the academic community that each situation was investigated. That is the reason for the marriage tribunal that was created. Many believe they reviewed each case and if the wife had truly turned to God and rejected her pagan practices she remained as a wife. It was only those who held on to their pagan god’s that were removed from Israel.

The scariest part of all this is that the leaders had the worst percentage of offences. Twenty-seven priest and Levites were found to have pagan wives who did not convert to God. That is twenty five percent of the people. This is a huge grievance. If the leaders could not follow God, how could the people they were leading? It is important that leaders set the stage for everyone else. This not only held true in Ezra’s day, but in our day as well.

This passage is hard to read. It is hard to fathom that many heartbreaks taking place. But it was necessary. God needed purity. God needed these people to bring the Messiah into the world. A severe action had to take place. We would be wise to think things through before embarking on a destructive path that will only bring heartbreak.

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[i] Smith, James E. The Book of History. Joplin: College Press, 1995. 716. Print.

September 24 – Esther 6-10

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Esther 6-10. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

One of the many things I love about God is His ability to use anything for His purposes. From the time man disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit in the garden, God has been on a relentless pursuit of mankind. When He selected Abraham to be the man to father the nation He was building, that family became His people. Overtime the name of Abraham’s decedents went from being called Hebrews, to Israelites, and finally to Jews. Jew is the English understanding of the Hebrew word Judah, the tribe that many of today’s Jews descend from (Using the term Jew to describe the Jewish people is not racist or condescending when used as a noun. It is when we use it at as a verb, like to jew someone down on their price, or in such a way that racism is implied from use and tone that the word is wrong!). It is with this remnant of people that God uses to bring people back to Him.

As followers of Christ and as people living nearly twenty-five hundred years after the events of Esther we know that Jesus is the ultimate piece of the puzzle that restores the torn relationship. But God was about restoration all along. In Esther 8:17 in the latter part of the verse the writer records for us these words … “And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them.” (Ester 8:17 NLT) In their king granted strength the people became scared of the Jews. So they bought into the old adage … if you cannot beat them, join them. This put a few more people in the path to the restoration of God’s relationship with mankind.

God will use anything. What did He use in your life to restore the relationship with you? What has you used in others lives? What situations and circumstance are currently happening in the lives of those around you that God may be using? Keep and observant eye open, always ready to share the good news of Jesus. 

September 23 – Esther 1-5

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Esther 1-5. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

The decisions we make have consequences. No matter how trivial or important they are, they all have consequences. It is always wise to make decisions when we are thinking calmly and with the right people around us. King Xerxes failed at this on two occasions today in our reading. The first is during a long feast and celebration the king was throwing. When his wife refused to parade herself before the guest, in anger the King did something he refused. The king turned to his trusted advisors and they encouraged him to make an example of the queen by banishing her.  

Having trusted advisors is important, but having the correct advisors is even more important. Xerxes listens to their ill advice and soon begins to regret his actions … “But after Xerxes’ anger had subsided, he began thinking about Vashti and what she had done and the decree he had made.” (Esther 2:1 NLT) Had he waited until he was no longer angry, he might have made a better decision.

Xerxes did not learn from his first mistake, and the second time and entire race of peoples lives are put on the line. Haman has a personal hate campaign against the Jews, and seeks to use his position

with the king to wipe them out. Without doing any research, without pausing to think through the ramifications, Xerxes gives the go ahead for Haman to carry out his terrible plot. Fortunately as we will see tomorrow God is in control, and Esther is in position for such a time as this.

What about you? Do you ever react before thinking things through? Do you allow your anger or your carelessness to get the best of you? Let Xerxes teach you an important lesson, surround yourself with people who will give you wise advice, and allow yourself some time to think before hitting send. 

September 19 – Haggai 1 & 2

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Haggai 1 & 2. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

When Ezra leads a team back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple they face a wave of opposition and stop their work. For years the Temple remains and unfinished construction site. To us in the Cincinnati area this reminds me of the unfinished tower at Kenwood Mall. God uses a prophet named Haggai to preach a message that would spur the work to begin again. Read again God’s argument … “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?” (Haggai 1:4 NLT) What an awesome argument for God to give.

So how does that apply to our lives today since God no longer resides in a Temple made of wood and stone? Today God lives in a Temple made of flesh and bone. When Christ died on the cross God left the physical temple in Jerusalem. On the day or Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon those who encountered a life saving relationship with Jesus God took up residence in His new Temple, the heart of man. So how does His Temple look today? Does His Temple look good and flashy on the outside, but on the inside the heart is torn up, rotting away, close to crumbling any day? Are we guilty of the same accusation that God waged against Ezra and His contemporaries?

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Haggai also taught me a second lesson today. God reminds the people that He is in charge. He reminds the people that they thought they would have a good harvest, but in reality things were not as bountiful as they had hoped and thought. God gives the reason that this was the case … “I sent blight and mildew and hail to destroy everything you worked so hard to produce. Even so, you refused to return to me, says the LORD.” (Haggai 2:17 NLT) Sometimes the negative we face in life is God’s hand at work. Sometimes God works to break us so that the only place we can turn is to Him. When we see negative in life, are we watching to see what it is God may be trying to do in us and through us? 

September 18 – Ezra 4-6 & Psalm 126

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Ezra 4-6 & Psalm 126. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

When I see churches that are struggling or even dying, I believe one thing that is missing is a common goal. Somewhere along the way the common goal, the drive that brought them together, has been lost. No longer are they working to bring new people in. No longer are they working to for the same cause. Sometime the only cause is to keep the doors open one more week. When we operate that way no real growth can happen.

There is power when we work together, all pushing for the same goal. That is what we see play out in our reading today. The Jews who have returned to rebuild the Temple of God are faced with persecution. Once Haggai and Zechariah encourage them to begin rebuilding, they work together and finish the task. Because they worked together they are able to succeed and even celebrate with a Passover Feast. What a powerful lesson for our churches to learn.  West Side, I know this is one area I believe we have been missing for a while, and I am going to get busy working this issue out. Please pray for our leadership as we listen to God’s teaching and leading.

Some bonus material …

One of the purposes of this chronological reading of the Bible is to help us associate the Biblical narrative into one flowing story as it happened in history. As I have shared before, the Bible is not organized in a chronological system, but grouped together in many ways by topics. We see the Old Testament break down into four main areas … The Pentateuch – the first five books of the Bible often called “The Law.” This section shows God establishing His people. From there we move into the books of history. These books show us the history of the nation(s) of Israel and later Judah in the land God had promised to Abraham. For the most part these first two sections follow the chronological history of God’s people. The third section is the where we begin to see a mix up of history. That is because they are often not history books but writings of the people who lived in that history. These are known as the writings; books like Job, Psalms, Song of Solomon, and Proverbs to name just a few. The final section of the Old Testament we see is the Prophets. These books again do not follow the chronology of the Bible. These prophets spoke and wrote to the people mostly recorded in 2 Samuel, 1^st and 2^nd Kings, and 1^st and 2^nd Chronicles. Some of these prophets lived and wrote at other times. Our reading today indicates two of these prophets, whom we will read from in the coming days. In Ezra 5:1 we see that the work of the temple is spurred to restart by the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah. Here the Bible gives us internal clues as to its own chronology. 

September 17 – Ezra 1-3

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Ezra 1-3. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Are you willing to stand strong under persecution to carry out the will of God? That is a big and important question all followers of God must answer at some point in life. God does not always call us to do the safe things for Him. God does not always ask us to go where it will take no stretching of faith to go. God wants to mold us and shape us and sometimes that means we must go through some hard times.

Today we started the book of Ezra. Ezra is called by God to go back to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple of God in the city. All the prophecies pointing to the hope of the return from exile are now beginning to be played out. Their work however is met with obstacles. There are people living in the land who do not want the exiles to return. Some of these people were other nationalities brought in from regions all around when the Babylonians exiled the Jews. Some of these are Jews who were not faithful and may have been left behind in the land. Read again these words of Ezra 3:3 … “Even thought the people were of afraid of the local residents, they built the altar at its old site.” (NLT) Even though they were afraid, thy built anyway.

What is God asking you to that will stretch your faith and trust in Him? Are willing to do it, or are you going to shyly step back and do what is only in your comfort zone. Some of the greatest change this world has ever seen was because people allowed God to stretch them. How can God use you?

September 16 – Daniel 10-12

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Daniel 10-12. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

It is a joke amongst preachers that whenever they ask their congregations what they would like to learn about they almost always get people wanting to study the book of Revelation. There is a lot of mystery and intrigue with this book because it talks about the end of days. There is something in that type of discussion that we all want to know more about. Maybe it is the imagery of the language that we cannot get our minds around. Maybe it is the fascination of the battle scenes it paints. Our reading today was not from the book of Revelation, but the language is very similar.

It all begins with Daniel in a period of mourning. This mourning concludes with a vision given to Daniel of things to come. What strikes me the most when I read this is Daniel’s response to the messenger … “How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.” (Daniel 10:17 NLT) Daniel did not feel he measured up to having a conversation with God.

Do you every feel like Daniel? Maybe you do not feel good enough to accept His grace. Maybe you do not feel holy enough to have a real, deep, meaningful discussion through pray with God. Maybe you question whether or not you should be a child of God or not. I do not know where you stand on talking with God, but the response Daniel heard is one we all need to hear … “Do not be afraid, for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” (Daniel 10:19 NLT).

Maybe your situation is not the context of Daniel’s, but I know this, you are special to God. He loves you. He cares for you. Be encouraged by His love; be strong because of His love, and find peace in knowing all of this!

September 15 – Daniel 7-9

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Daniel 7-9. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan. 

September 14 – Daniel 4-6

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Daniel 4-6. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan. 

September 13 – Daniel 1-3

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Daniel 1-3. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan. 

Photo Credit: Leslie Maxey

Our reading today takes us to two of the most well known stories in the entire Bible. It begins with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah entering King Nebuchadnezzar’s service in the Babylonian government. It concluded with the famous story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego … Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah’s Babylonian names, or maybe you know them as Veggie’s Tales Rack, Shack, and Benny … being thrown into the fiery furnace for not bowing down to the statue. Today’s reading was very timely for me.

For whatever reason I woke up in a foul mood. I was not happy. I did not want to do anything. I did not want to be nice. Little things were making me made. I simply did not want to do the things that I knew were right. And then here comes Daniel, being presented the best food that Babylon had to offer. He pleaded to not partake of the food and was granted that request. God even provided for him and his three friends through all of this.

While reading it made me wander about the battle that Daniel may have had in his own mind. Daniel and his friends were from Jerusalem. They were rising stars in the Jewish government. But when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem he took Israel’s finest. Now they are in Babylon, being treated like royalty, being introduced to new customs and culture, and I am sure temptation was there. How did Daniel fight it off? How did he put God first? How hard of a decision was it for him? Those are questions I do not have answers for. However, I do know that no matter the battle that raged in his own mind, Daniel ultimately did what honored God.

Honoring God is something we all must do no matter our moods, our attitudes, or the days we have just had. Thank you God for the timely lesson you gave me. 

September 12 – Joel 1-3

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Joel 1-3. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan. 

Photo Credit: Matt Molly

In the ancient world one way to show grief, shock, or repentance was by tearing your clothing from the neck down. This was an outward symbol of what was going on in the mind and heart in the moment of anguish. In our twenty-first century minds this is an odd way to show grief. But in reality until recently we had some similar practices … wearing only black to a funeral … as a minister I attend many funerals, people no longer wear solid black to funerals. I am sure there are other ways today that we show morning through our outward appearances.

God knew this practice existed and in the return from exile, He wanted His people to turn back to Him. “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Do not tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate.” (Joel 2:12-13 NLT).

So while we may show the physical signs of mourning, I do not believe that is enough. I believe we must turn to God. We must find comfort and strength in Him. In God we should find our medicine. Only in God will true joy be realized. In cognitive thinking that is an easy thing to do. But in a practical application it is harder. Doing so will be something that takes effort, thought, and time to develop into a habit. To tear your heart and not your clothes is giving it to God because only He can mend the torn heart. 

September 11 – Ezekiel 46-48

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Ezekiel 46-48. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan. 

September 10 – Ezekiel 43-45

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Ezekiel 43-45. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

In the vision that Ezekiel was given about the Temple God gave Him some basic instructions. Now I am not positive if the Temple that Ezekiel saw was the eternal Temple of God in Heaven, or the rebuilt Temple following the return from exile. It is probably a little of both. I can be sure of this, the instructions that God gave for those serving, they are to actually be carried out when the return from exile happens.

What struck me as great is the fact that it is the responsibility of the clergy to set the pattern of holiness. God gives instructions on what the priest of the family of Zadok are to do: special clothing, special headwear, carefully trimmed but not shaven hair, no wine before serving, pure wives, teach the difference between holy and unholy, clean and unclean, serve as judges, obey God’s instructions, not defile himself with dead people, own no property but live in the allotted land, and for all this God will provide their needs from the offerings of the people.

While the role of minister may look different today, I do not believe our call has been made that much different. We are still the teachers, the leaders, and the example setters. We have been called to be holy to show people holiness through our lives. Help us do that. If you find us not doing so, please come to us in love and correct us where we are wrong. I pray we are humble enough and in tune with God enough that we will listen to your words of love. 

September 6 – Ezekiel 31-33

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Ezekiel 31-33. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

God instructs Ezekiel to do something strange today … “Son of man, mourn for Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and give him this message,” (Ezekiel 32:2 NLT) and “I will disturb many hearts when I bring news of your downfall to distant nations you have never seen.” (Ezekiel 32:9 NLT) God is bringing judgment against Egypt. He knows it will disturb hearts, but he also instructs Ezekiel to mourn. That is an odd request for God to make of a man who possibly sees Egypt as an enemy.

This past week news broke that Ariel Castro had hung himself in his prison cell. You probably remember that Ariel Castro was the Cleveland man who kept three women hostage in his home for nearly ten years. With one of the girls, Amanda Berry he fathered a daughter. What reaction ran through your mind when you heard the news of his death? Did you celebrate because now the man was dead, he could no longer harm anyone else, and we as taxpayers do not have to pay to keep him alive? Or did you mourn for him knowing that he probably did not know Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and is now spending eternity in Hell? Or do you think his eternal punishment in Hell is perfectly fine?

God told Ezekiel to mourn for Egypt because of what He was getting ready to do to them. I believe whole heartedly that God loves every person who has ever walked this planet no matter the evil in their hearts. I think it tears God’s heart in two whenever one is sent to eternity in Hell. God told Ezekiel to mourn for Egypt. I believe we should mourn for our enemies as well. Yes, people who do wrong, who harm others should pay for their crimes. But no where, no way should we celebrate their eternal punishment in Hell. That should break our hearts. 

September 5 – Ezekiel 28-30

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Ezekiel 28-30. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

When God predicts His judgment against Tyre he begins with their pride beginning at the top level … “In your great pride you claim, ‘I am a god! I sit on a divine throne in the heart of the sea.’” (Ezekiel 28:2b NLT)  God was angry with Tyre and its prince because he claimed to be a god. Now this was not anything new. Most kings of the ancient world believed in a plethora of gods. Many even believed as kings they were a god themselves. God saw this as pride and arrogance.

As I examine my own life I realize I am not much different than the prince of Tyre. Now I do not believe I am deity. I do not believe in any way that I am a god, but I sure do try to live like it. I try to live as if I know everything. I try to live as if the whole world revolves around me, and sadly this is often ramped up in my own home. I try to live with all the pleasures I can afford. While I may not put myself on the same playing field as some form of deity, I certainly try to live like a God.

I think my actions anger God like the prince of Tyre’s did. What about you, do you see yourself falling into the same trap as the Prince of Tyer did? For him it was incredibly easy, he was the prince of a very beautiful city and region. He had wealth. He had servants. He had material possessions. He had people bowing down to him. And for us it is easy to. As American’s God has richly blessed our nation. We in a sense do not constantly need God (We really do, but be honest, how many of us are so in need that the only option to turn to is God himself?). Because of God’s blessings, too many times we do not turn to God, but to our own self. Those actions make us like the prince of Tyre, proud and seeing ourselves as a god. Be on guard though, God does not like competition. 

September 4 – Ezekiel 25-27

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Ezekiel 25-27. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

In our home it is my responsibility to get our daughter ready for bed each night. Each night we brush our teeth, take allergy medicine, put on our pajamas and then go into her room where we read a book, pray, and then lay day for the night. One of my favorite parts of this routine is the prayer time. She is now learning to pray so some nights she does it. But when I get the opportunity to pray, I always try to include one portion in my prayer … to tell God I cannot wait to see what He has planned for Alivia. I know God has plans for each of us. And I want Alivia to grow up hearing those words. I want that to be so routine in my nighttime prayers for her that as she grows, she begins dreaming of all the ways God might use her.

You might look at your life, and think to yourself, “what is it that God can use me for?” Maybe you do not think you are worthy to be used by God. Maybe you think you have done too many wrongs to now do any right. Those thoughts could not be further from the truth. In our reading today we see God predict that he will use King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon against Tyre and even Judah (Ezekiel 26:7). God predicted and did use a pagan foreign king to bring punishment on His people.

I do not know what you have done, where you have been, or the life you have lived. But I do know God has a plan for you. Let Him work it in your life. 

September 3 – Ezekiel 23-24

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Ezekiel 23-24. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

I absolutely love the Bible. God did not hold back. God did not skirt around issues. God did not remove vulgarity to protect us. God was willing to use harsh language, scandalous illustrations, and sharp points to teach His children. That is what we experienced in Ezekiel 23. What we read there was pretty pointed and what we would consider almost X rated.

For that I am thankful. God created us in His image. That means part our creation is intelligence. He created us with the ability to understand the teachings, even if it meant doing so in ways that are not so pleasant to read.

Somehow though, we have forgotten that in the church. We do not talk about things sometimes that need to be talked about because we have considered them too taboo for church. We skip over the joys of sex because we the church feel it is too risky to preach about. God used sex to define the relationship Israel and Judah were creating with Him. We skip around church discipline, but is not that what God has been doing to Israel and Judah through our reading these last few months? Maybe it is time to begin communicating like our creator, using sharp, scandalous, and even painful points to teach truth. 

September 2 – Ezekiel 21-22

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Ezekiel 21-22. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Do you look for hope as you read through all the destruction of the prophets? I hope you do because God has planted it throughout. In our reading today we saw just another example of that … “Destruction! Destruction! I will surely destroy the kingdom. And it will not be restored until the one appears who has the right to judge it. Then I will hand it over to him.” (Ezekiel 21:27 NLT) As I have said before I love the fact that God doesn’t only paint a picture of destruction, but he also gives hope.

What we see here isn’t just hope of restoration as a nation. The kingdom talked about here is much more than they could imagine. We know that the Israelites understood that there was coming a messiah to offer deliverance. We know that during Jesus life they were looking for a military or political leader in their messiah. And we also know that even Jesus own disciples didn’t fully understand Him. But as people living after the resurrection we have historical perspective. We can understand God’s words here on a level 1^st century Israel didn’t.

I am grateful for that. Because I can look at the Bible, the wonderful story it weaves and see God preparing the world for the coming of the Messiah! I can see the language of the one who has the right to judge, and know that person is Jesus Christ. Jesus was God in the flesh; He had the full authority to judge and the full authority to forgive. Had they understood this passage, the Pharisees might not have questioned Jesus like they did in Matthew 9:1-8. I love that I can look at that and understand what God is saying. Do you cherish that ability as well?