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.