Reading: Ezekiel 1 - 3
My Verse: "Behold, I have made your face strong and hard against their faces
and your forehead strong and hard
against their foreheads.
Like an adamant harder than flint or a diamond point
have I made your forehead;
fear them not,
neither be dismayed at their looks,
for they are a rebellious house" (Ezekiel 3:8,9 AMPLIFIED).
This is an amazing thing! Often I have wondered how the prophets did what they did, how martyrs were able to stand before their tormentors and killers - it is You that enabled them, LORD God! I guess I just thought they were a very special people and they were but they were also people like me - people that You made special by enabling them to endure what they did. They were able to stand because You picked them up and held them up as you did with Ezekiel here. He kept fainting away but You would pick him up.
"I fell upon my face . . . "
"And the Spirit entered into me . . .
and set me upon my feet . . ." (Ezekiel 1:28 - 2:2).
Isaiah spoke of this very thing, of how You, LORD God enabled him.
"For the LORD God helps me;
therefore have I not been ashamed or confounded.
Therefore have I set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame" (Isaiah 50:7 AMPLIFIED).
Jeremiah, too, spoke of how You, LORD God made it possible for him to do Your works. It was You and You only that enabled Jeremiah to pit himself against his own people, against the popular culture of his day, to stand alone against the rebelliousness of all those around him.
"And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city,
an iron pillar, and bronze walls,
against the whole land,
against the kings of Judah,
its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
They will fight against you
but they will not prevail against you,
for I am with you,
declares the LORD, to deliver you" (Jeremiah 1:18,19).
Micah spoke of this as well.
"But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the LORD,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression
and to Israel his sin" (Micah 3:8 ESV).
There can be no better example of Your enabling, LORD God, than the amazing story of Stephen's martyrdom in Acts 6:8 - 7:60.
"And Stephen, full of grace and power,
was doing great wonders and signs among the people. . ."
Many were against him and tried to refute what he was saying but,
"But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking . . ."
Stephen was finally brought before his accusers in the Council,
"And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel . . ."
Even while they stoned him in rage, Stephen cried out that You, LORD God "not hold this sin against them."
I am so very grateful for Your Word, LORD God. You know how often I need reminding of Your love for me, of Your compassion and mercy and vast power to intervene on my behalf when I am in need.
Oh, LORD God, we are Your created beings - and how far we stray from You and Your truths!
"Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).
Thank You for drawing me to You and enabling me to understand and believe Who You are!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "Behold, I have made your face strong and hard against their faces
and your forehead strong and hard
against their foreheads.
Like an adamant harder than flint or a diamond point
have I made your forehead;
fear them not,
neither be dismayed at their looks,
for they are a rebellious house" (Ezekiel 3:8,9 AMPLIFIED).
This is an amazing thing! Often I have wondered how the prophets did what they did, how martyrs were able to stand before their tormentors and killers - it is You that enabled them, LORD God! I guess I just thought they were a very special people and they were but they were also people like me - people that You made special by enabling them to endure what they did. They were able to stand because You picked them up and held them up as you did with Ezekiel here. He kept fainting away but You would pick him up.
"I fell upon my face . . . "
"And the Spirit entered into me . . .
and set me upon my feet . . ." (Ezekiel 1:28 - 2:2).
Isaiah spoke of this very thing, of how You, LORD God enabled him.
"For the LORD God helps me;
therefore have I not been ashamed or confounded.
Therefore have I set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame" (Isaiah 50:7 AMPLIFIED).
Jeremiah, too, spoke of how You, LORD God made it possible for him to do Your works. It was You and You only that enabled Jeremiah to pit himself against his own people, against the popular culture of his day, to stand alone against the rebelliousness of all those around him.
"And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city,
an iron pillar, and bronze walls,
against the whole land,
against the kings of Judah,
its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
They will fight against you
but they will not prevail against you,
for I am with you,
declares the LORD, to deliver you" (Jeremiah 1:18,19).
Micah spoke of this as well.
"But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the LORD,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression
and to Israel his sin" (Micah 3:8 ESV).
There can be no better example of Your enabling, LORD God, than the amazing story of Stephen's martyrdom in Acts 6:8 - 7:60.
"And Stephen, full of grace and power,
was doing great wonders and signs among the people. . ."
Many were against him and tried to refute what he was saying but,
"But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking . . ."
Stephen was finally brought before his accusers in the Council,
"And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel . . ."
Even while they stoned him in rage, Stephen cried out that You, LORD God "not hold this sin against them."
I am so very grateful for Your Word, LORD God. You know how often I need reminding of Your love for me, of Your compassion and mercy and vast power to intervene on my behalf when I am in need.
Oh, LORD God, we are Your created beings - and how far we stray from You and Your truths!
"Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).
Thank You for drawing me to You and enabling me to understand and believe Who You are!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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