Regular nibbles from the Bible. . .come for a bite, leave with an appetite



May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight. (Psalm 19:14, MSG)

Monday, December 2, 2013

God as Your Possession (Ezekiel 42-44)

God commissioned the Levitcal Priesthood to teach God’s people “the difference between the holy and common” (Ezekiel 44:23). They served the Lord in the temple and lived off the sacrifices the people brought to them. They adhered to laws dealing with what they ate, what they wore, how they cut their hair and beard and who they married. They owned no land. “I am your possession,” declared the Lord (Ezekiel 44:28).

In the Old Testament, God commanded to and commended people for seeing Him, not  fame, riches, power, or happiness.

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. (I Chronicles 16:10-11)

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) 

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

 Despite his weaknesses, David pleased God by being a man after His heart (I Samuel 13:13-14 and Acts 13:22).

Christians not only belong to Christ, in a sense, He belongs to us. He receives us into His family. We receive Him as our portion.

We can seek God the Father by getting to know Jesus.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  (Hebrews 1:3)  

God also gave us His Holy Spirit to help.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.   (Romans 8:26)

Seeking God isn't just a good idea; it should be the most important activity in our life.   

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

In seeking God, our focus changes.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:2-3)

We not only seek Him, we come to Him believing we will find Him.

 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.   Hebrews 11:6

If we are healthy, rich and powerful, what good is that if we don’t have the Lord? Let’s seek Him today in all the ways we know how, trusting Him to add what we need and desire as a natural result.

Connie L. Peters has thirty years of experience in writing poetry, adult and children’s fiction and inspirational non-fiction. Currently she writes devotions for The Presidential Prayer Team and The Pagosa Sun. She also writes a poem a day on enthusiaticsoul.blogspot.com. Connie’s work has appeared in numerous publications including Focus on the Family, Bible Advocate and The Quiet Hour. She has served on the board of Southwest Christian Writers Association for the past twenty years. Connie lives in Cortez, CO where she and her husband host two adults with developmental disabilities. The Peters’ two grown children live in Arizona.