The Daily Fountain Devotional Friday, October 21, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Friday, October 21, 2022
Friday, October 21,2022
TOPIC: HOPE FOR THE FAITHFUL
TEXT: Ezekiel 11:14-25
14 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 15 Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the Lord: unto us is this land given in possession. 16 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.17 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
18 And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. 19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 21 But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord God. 22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
23 And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city. 24 Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me. 25 Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the Lord had shewed me.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Friday, October 21, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
Today's Bible passage is the answer to Ezekiel’s question concerning the fate of the remnants of Israel (v. 13b). The majority of the people had moved far away for the Lord. However, there was a remnant of faithful among the people. For their sake, God would not destroy them. At that time, many of the faithful remnants were already in captivity. However, God put them in the protection of their captors, and they would survive as God promised (v.16). Apart from God's protection and making sure they survived, He also promised Divine restoration back to their land. Not only would He restore them, but He would also give them one heart and a new Spirit to worship Yahweh (w. 17-20). To the unfaithful, only destruction awaited them (v.21). Though the world is facing diverse challenges and tribulations, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases" (Lam. 3:22).
Our nation is no longer secure; there are killings everywhere. Frustration, insurgency, sickness, disease, economic meltdown and corruption have become the order of the day. In the midst of these, God is ever ready to restore us to our original state, if only the faithful would turn their hearts to Him and call upon the name of the Lord for Divine intervention over our situation in the country and the world at large. There is still hope in God for the faithful.
Prayer: O Lord, have mercy upon our land; and for the sake of the faithful, restore us to fullness in Jesus' Name. Amen