Exhausted: Why Pleasing God Can’t Be Our First Motivation
Have you ever felt exhausted by the Christian life?
Have you felt burnt out, like you keep running and not getting anywhere? Have you ever wondered why you don’t feel the joy and freedom Jesus talks about in the Bible? Have you ever felt like you needed to pretend like you have your life together, especially to other Christians? Do you feel like you’re showing up to church or Bible study just to check a box, but no one there really knows you?
You aren’t alone.
So many of us are exhausted but unwilling to admit it. We’re surrounded but feel so isolated. Why? What are we missing? What’s wrong?
There are a lot of answers to this question, but we think one of the foundational ones is this: we have made pleasing God our primary motive, rather than trusting God. Let’s unpack that a bit.
Pleasing God: Striving hard to be all God wants me to be
“At some point all of us find ourselves at a fork in the road in our spiritual lives. Suddenly you find yourself staring down two paths, two distinctly different paths. One says ‘Pleasing God.’ The other says ‘Trusting God.’” –The Two Roads Video
Of the two, pleasing God sure sounds more appealing than trusting God—pleasing God implies that we have something to do, some way to contribute to the relationship. It’s active. It sounds like we care, like we’re motivated, like we aren’t lazing around. We try to perform for God, try to keep Him pleased with us, while feeling like He’s getting farther and farther away as we continue to struggle and sin. Pleasing God sounds like a good primary motivation, so why does it lead to hiding, isolation, and pretending?
When we think that we gain and lose God’s favor by our behavior, we begin to hide from others. We can’t let them know that we’re struggling, or we might lose our place—we might lose their favor, too. So we hide and pretend, running as hard as we can to please God and, by extension, others. Even if we occasionally feel like we’ve pleased God, we know we’re on a razor’s edge of losing it again. Some of us are built for running and performing. We might last longer in the hamster wheel. But, eventually, many of us run ourselves into the ground. We’re exhausted from trying to please a God we feel is more and more disappointed with us. We’re exhausted from faking it to others, even those closest to us.
Pleasing God is a good desire. You won’t hear us say otherwise. It just can’t be our primary motivation, or it’ll imprison our hearts. We can never do enough good deeds or sin little enough to please God. It’s why we need a Savior. What we mean here by “primary motive” has to do with that which is the driving force of our very hearts. If our desire is primarily to please God, we will be the initiators. We will end up manufacturing all sorts of ways to do this, without trusting in the God we’re trying to please. We do this despite the clear teaching that nothing we do apart from trust pleases Him. Indeed, Paul observes that “whatever is not of faith [trust] is sin.”
Trusting God: Living out of who God says I am
There’s an incredible phrase in Hebrews 11:6: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” The word “faith” is the noun form of the word “believe” or “trust.” Thus, the issue of pleasing God is inextricably bound to trusting Him. What the author of Hebrews is saying is that pleasing God is the result of trusting Him. There is nothing that we can “conjure up” to please Him that is not based upon who He is and what He has already done in and for us.
When our primary motive becomes trusting God, we discover there is nothing in the world that pleases Him more! We please God by choosing to trust Him. When our main drive becomes growing in trust, a whole new world opens to us. We get to exhale, trusting that He has already transformed us from a sinner to a saint as our primary identity. We can begin opening up and trusting others with our hard areas, because we know that who we are has already been settled by God. We can finally rest, knowing that we are fully loved and accepted. Incredibly, when trusting God becomes our primary motive, it allows us to run like we couldn’t before. This is no hamster wheel. This is the joyful race talked about in Hebrews 12:1-3. Fixing our eyes on what Jesus has already accomplished, we are free to run hard, not because it changes our identity or the Father’s love for us, but because we get to participate with Him in His work. The difference is that the first race exhausts us, because we’re running to try to gain something we’re afraid we don’t have. This second kind of race fuels us and fills us, because it’s rooted in joy, peace, and trust in what Jesus has accomplished.
But Won’t People Get Lazy?
We hear this a lot. We get worried that “trusting” is too passive and lazy (although any of us that have actually tried to walk the path of trusting God know that it is an incredibly active, difficult, adventurous journey!). This passage of The Cure addresses this fear:
The word “grace” appears 122 times in the New Testament. The Judaizers in the apostle Paul’s day hated it. They feared what it would do if it got loose. “Paul, you can’t tell them this!” they said. “These people are immature, lazy and have little religious background. They’ll abuse it as soon as they can. They’ll live Christianity-lite. These people are weak and want to do whatever they want. And believe me, what they want is not good.” Paul responds, in essence, this way: “You’d have a great point, if it wasn’t for two truths. First, these people have a new nature. They have Christ in them. They’re not who they were. They don’t want to get away with anything. They want to enjoy Him, and can’t find a way to do that within your ugly system.
Second, they have the Holy Spirit, who is able to correct, encourage, rebuke, and challenge. They have God, you know.”
Yes, if we don’t believe 2 Corinthians 5:7 that “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come,” then we might be concerned. But if we believe that Christ has actually transformed us, and therefore has actually transformed others, then we can trust that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6).
How can I apply this today?
Identify one specific thing you want to grow in trusting God with. Your identity? His faithfulness? His provision? Your destiny?
Commit to bringing this to God in prayer over the next week. You don’t need to conjure up a different feeling about it. Just keep telling Him that you struggle with trust in that area, and ask Him to help you.
Tell one trusted person in your life about the area you want to grow in.
What does it mean to have faith? I have gotten this question numerous times as a pastor. Faith is a term that is vitally important but often also loosely defined or applied.
People speak of faith as if it is a “leap of faith.” In this way it sounds like an acceptable embracing of something that is irrational. The Bible does not present faith as irrational.
Others speak of faith as simply intellectual ascent. I believe the facts about God much like someone believes the facts about the life of George Washington. While facts are important there is more.
Still others will speak of the way they feel. God makes them happy when they should be sad. Emotion corresponds with faith but is not all that faith is.
Some even speak of faith in a reflexive way. They talk of “my faith” terms that don’t seem to get very far from themselves. It is a mantra to keep on believing–but in who? or what?
Biblical faith is outward, fixed upon God, due to who he is, what he has done, and his infinite value. Hebrews 11.6 famously says,
”And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV)
At Emmaus we often speak of faith in terms of “trusting and treasuring” God. We believe that God is who he said he is and as a result we believe (trust) him to do everything that he has promised. Further, because he is infinitely glorious, we treasure him above any and everything.
Trusting Christ In order to be saved, to be in Christ, we must trust him. That is, we must come to the point where we see the futility of our works before God. We must see that we are altogether unclean, devoid of righteousness, and in fact unrighteous altogether before the unflinching bar of eternal justice (Is. 64.6; Rom. 3.10-19). In this pride smashing, somewhat painful self-awareness we realize that we need righteousness (Rom. 3.19).
Jesus is the one who comes as God in the flesh (John 1.14) to save his people from their sins (Matt. 1.21). He lives the perfect life that I could and would not. He obeys the Law perfectly (Gal. 4.4), loving his Father and neighbor perfectly (John 8.29) and ultimately gives his life as the payment for sinners like me and you (2 Cor 5.21; Gal. 3.13; Phil. 2.3-11).
In Christ, God extends the perfect blood and righteousness of Jesus as the only suitable payment for our sin and standing place before him. So our believing is present tense (John 3.16). It is a whole-souled trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone for us and our salvation.
Treasuring Christ When God in Christ does this for a wretch like me how can I but praise him? How can he not be my heart’s chief treasure?!
To believe in Christ is to see him as our only hope in this life or the next, our soul’s chief delight, point of living, hope in dying, goal in everything! (Col. 3.1-4; Col. 3.15-17). To believe upon Christ is to have our soul’s satisfied in him (John 6.35). To treasure Christ is to hear the Father say of his Son, “This is my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1.11) and then repeat it back to him, “This is my beloved Savior, with him I am well-pleased!”
To combine trusting and treasuring I think we have the incorporation of our head, heart and will (or as the Puritans would say, “affections”). We see our brokenness, deficiency, and hopelessness without a mediator….then God graciously shows us Jesus. He is our life! By his dying and doing we are made alive, declared righteous, adopted, sanctified, kept, and will ultimately be presented as holy, blameless and beyond reproach before God almighty the righteous judge (Col. 1.21; Jude 24-25).
We can see both of these come together in many places in the Bible but let me take the 28th Psalm for example.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” (Psalm 28:7)
Notice the Psalmist trusts in God and then he treasures him (exults). This exulting is worshipping, rejoicing, delighting, and being moved by the supremacy of God. This is why he continues on to brag upon the work of God in the life of his people:
”The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.” (Psalm 28:8-9)
Biblical faith has always looked the same. We look away from ourselves and unto the God who has revealed himself, made promises, acted powerfully, showcased his supremacy, and won our loyalty. So we believe—we trust and treasure God!
Matthew 7:1-5; and what it means to all people? By Anthony Joseph Hopkins June 18, 2021
What Does it mean to have a log, speck, or beam inside of your eyes? First and foremost, we must remove the sin from our lives. Second, we cannot judge your brother. Only God is the righteous and just Judge. This has a lot to do with the sins inside of our lives. Frankly, it is better safe rather than sorry.
This means that we all have problems that God must resolve for us. I know that my life is not perfect. I can only share with others what God has done for us. What I am saying is that for all have sinned and we have fallen short. I want to informed all of you that I am saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Spirit. God assumes full responsibility for our obedience. I do recall in my life when I was growing up in Dayton, Ohio. During the 1970s, I have spent a lot of time with my grandparents.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother s eye.
Next, I want to inform you that we should not judge others. God will judge us in the same way that we judge others. I recall during the 1970s, I was in Elementary School at Edison in Dayton, Ohio. My mother and grandmother used to watch me get chased by my enemies.
My schoolmates used to chase me home. I did not pick on them, they used to bother me because my parents used to bless me with money and goods. Although I did not have a problem sharing all of my things with my friends. I remember when I made a bet with one of my classmates. I made a bet that Minnesota would beat the Dallas Cowboys. I made a $3.00 bet. Therefore, Minnesota lost to the Dallas Cowboys. I do not recall the score of the game. I saw it for myself. Afterwards, it took me 6 years to pay my debt to my friend. This same person used to chase me home. Each time I went to school, I used to get chased home by my classmates.
Before I can judge and accuse others, I must look at myself. I also have to pray to God the Father to help me to resolve all of my personal conflicts. I do remember when my sister used to beat me up. My sister used to get mad at me because I used to hold her hand: while we are walking home from school or my grandmother’s house. I know that it has not been easy for me growing up. Yesterday, I talked about hearing voices. Everyone who read my information prayed for me. I want to thank all of those who read my essay, who prayed for me. I have a lot of confidence in myself because Jesus Christ died for my sins. I am very happy that I have friends and caring people; who loves me enough to want to pray for me.
Finally, I want to say that during the time I was growing up in Dayton, Ohio, I used to get chased home by my classmates. I am not saying that I was a punk growing up. I had to fight people, who were older than me. I want to say that I love people. I love God’s Creation. I know that my life has been filled with ups and downs from 1972 to 1990. Currently, I am reading the Bible each day. I am praying for everyone who I know and do not know. I write about what the Lord has done for me in my life. I feel much better right now. I have been clean and sober for 31 years now. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me. Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the Cross for my sins. I am free from the bondage of Satan. Whoever is praying for me, I want to say thank you very much for praying for me. I love you very much.
What does it mean to have a log or a speck inside of your eyes?
This is an essay that has a whole lot of importance in our daily lives. The question is what does it mean to have a log or a speck inside of your eyes? First, I would like to say that having a log or speck inside of your eyes, means we have sins in our lives. For instance, in my case, I used to look at pornography each day for the past 43 years. I also used to use vulgarity since I was 5 years old. The reason why I have done these things because I was angry and my parents used vulgarity toward each other.
Further, my mother and stepfather used to cuss each other out all of the time. I guess for the past 21 years of their marriage, my mother and stepfather has problems communicating with each other. As far as pornography is concerned, I started looking at it when I was a child. I asked God to stop me from using vulgarity and looking at porn. God has changed me from the inside out.
I feel a whole lot better because I am a new creation according to 2 Corinthians 5:17. I had problems from my past that tend to affect me through this very day. According to Matthew 7:3-5 says: And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but you do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, let me remove the speck from your eye; Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Moreover, I must repent of all of my sins; first and foremost, before I am able to help another person. The reason why I am saying these things because it is not easy dealing with my own sins without God’s help. I want to inform everyone that I have to be very careful about the things that we do because God is watching us. If you do not believe me read Proverbs 15:3. This Bible verse say the eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. This is true because I asked Him too. I am not saying that I am a very weak person. However, I still have to be very careful because Satan is busy. Satan is the master deceiver.
In Addition, I want to inform all of you that the devil will hurt you. According to John 8:44; it states that you are of your father, the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources; for he is a liar and the father of it. This is the truth because the devil, all he wants to do is steal, kill, and destroy. This is a verse from John 10:10. The Lord says that He has come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. The Lord God is blessing me every single day. For example, He is keeping me clean and sober from alcohol and drugs.
Also, I have been clean and sober for 28 years as of this year in 2018. I admit to using vulgarity for the past 47 years. I also admit to looking at pornography for the past 43 years. I also admit to having a mental illness called schizoid affective disorder and bipolar1. I also admit that I come from a dysfunctional family. I will admit to writing a 350 page manifesto about my personal life during the time I was a patient at Summit Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. For 4 consecutive months, I wrote down everything that the voices were saying to me; whether or not it was good or bad.
According to 2nd Timothy 1:7 says that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind. God does not want me to be scared of demonic spirits. We are supposed to fear God and not demonic spirits. I also want to say that God is doing for me, what I cannot do for myself. I write every single day, read the Bible out loud, and pray out loud because it helps me to cope with having a mental illness. I also attend AA and NA meetings as well as attend church on a regular basis. When it comes to people who had a plank inside of their eyes. The first one was Cain, who killed his brother Abel because the Lord favored Abel over Cain.
Eventually, when it comes to the Bible, King David, killed the husband of Bathsheba in secret. 2nd Samuel 12:9-10 says why have you despised the commandments of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. The Lord punished David for what he has done to the Lord. These are examples of what it mean to have a plank and a speck inside of your eyes. It is the sins that we commit each day that makes the Lord very displeased with us. The Lord will forgive us of our sins as long as we repent honestly of our sins.
Finally, there is no turning back. David’s first child by Bathsheba died and he was in great distress. David did wrong in the eyes of God. We all must repent of our sins and be honest about it. I repent of my sins on a daily basis. I will admit that I feel ashamed and embarrassed about everything that I have done wrong. Do you know that everything we do in our life is being recorded by God? Matthew 12:36-37 says but I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement. For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned. Please repent of your sins because it is the only way; we are going to heaven. We must believe that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead. We must also believe that God is the Creator of all things. Thank you very much for reading my essay.
My name is Anthony Joseph Hopkins and I am a Blogger. I have been writing for the past 12 years.
Romans 10:9-10 says that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. This means that anytime that I need the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, I shall be saved.
This is the reason why the Book of Romans is the Book of Salvation. I believe inside of my heart that God will save me. I believe in Jesus Christ, the man, who died for all of our sins. I know that I hear God’s voice in other ways. God speaks through other people. I want you to know that I have been hearing voices other than the Holy Spirit since November 5, 2009. I am devastated because I have to hear God’s voice through other people.
Next, I want to inform everyone that these voices that I hear are using vulgarity towards me every single day. I know that there is another Bible verse that states that if a person does not hear God’s voice, you are not his to begin with. I really believe in God.
I have been crying every single day for the past 11 years now. I desperately want these voices to leave me alone. I really need some help. I would like for everyone who reads this essay to please keep me in your prayers. I know that I am not perfect. I have been writing for the past 12 years now. I am very apprehensive right now. I really feel empty right now. I feel empty because I do not hear God’s voice.
Moreover, I want to inform all of you that I have been praying every single day for the voices to depart from me. I really feel depressed and sad because every time I hear these voices, which are demonic spirits.
These voices have been talking negative to me. The voices that I hear are a lot of women. The voices already know that I have been baptized since February 15, 2015. The voices always follow me online. There are times that I wonder why am I hearing demonic spirits instead of the Holy Spirit? I cannot allow these voices to take advantage of me. I believe in God and Jesus Christ. I just cannot shake this demonic spirit. I love all of you very much. I am scared because God might reject me from heaven. Please pray for me because I do not want to go to hell. God Bless All of You!! Please take care of yourselves.
What Is the Significance of the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel?
Is Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones literal or figurative? Did he really see bones come to life? Let’s dive into the meaning behind this vision concerning the nation of Isreal and what does it mean for us today?
David Sanfordhttps://fcdf47c3507b6754dfbb54678a4fdb96.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html?n=0
No other prophet had such surreal experiences as Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 37, we see his vision of The Valley of Dry Bones following his visions concerning the nation of Israel.
Ezekiel first warns the kingdom of Judah of coming judgment (chapters 4-7), sees visions of the Lord’s glory departing from the Temple (chapters 8-11), continues to exhort the people of Judah to repent (chapters 12-24), and prophecies against other nations (chapters 25-32).
After Jerusalem’s fall, Ezekiel speaks of the nation’s travails and future restoration (chapters 33-39). The most unusual chapter about the nation’s restoration, of course, is the vision of the valley of dry bones. It’s quite surreal.
Ezekiel then warns the kingdom of Judah of coming judgment (chapters 4-7), sees visions of the Lord’s glory departing from the Temple (chapters 8-11), continues to exhort the people of Judah to repent (chapters 12-24), and prophecies against other nations (chapters 25-32).
After Jerusalem’s fall, Ezekiel speaks of the nation’s travails and future restoration (chapters 33-39). The most unusual chapter about the nation’s restoration, of course, is the vision of the valley of dry bones. It’s quite surreal. What exactly did Ezekiel experience in the Valley of Dry Bones?
What is the Meaning The Valley of Dry Bones Vision?
If only someone could have put a video camera in Ezekiel’s hands before Ezekiel 37:1-14. The valley of dry bones was no Hollywood production — the location manager, set builder, bone collector, special effects director, producer, actor, soundman, and scriptwriter all were God Himself.
Four insights into the significance and meaning of the Valley of Dry Bones:
1. The phrase “very dry” bones is unique within the Hebrew scriptures.These aren’t newly or recently dead. These are long, long dead. Think years or decades.
What’s more, the word “bones” occurs more often in Ezekiel 37:1-11 than any Old Testament book except Job and Psalms. That’s a lot of ’dem bones!
2. The vision describes the restoration of God’s people, not the physical resurrection of specific individuals, as evidenced both by the broader and immediate context, Ezekiel 36:24-38. To say the least, God’s amazing, almighty power is clearly on display.
The Lord’s power to restore Israel to its land is an encouraging reminder that He always keeps His unconditional promises. If He promises to raise us from the dead someday, He will.
3. The two-part “resurrection” mirrors Genesis 2:7describing the creation of Adam. First, God creates the phenomenally complex human body with 100% of everything intact and ready to work.
Second, God breathes in a small part of His life into each of us. This reminds us that we humans are made in His image and likeness. God wants to breathe His Spirit not only into us, of course, but also in all not-yet-Christians that we know and love. Keep praying toward that end!
4. In verse 12, the scene appears to move to a cemetery.The phrase “open your graves” (twice) is unique within the Old Testament.
6 Interesting Questions to Answer About the Valley of Dry Bones Vision
1. How did Ezekiel travel? Body? Spirit? Answer: Both. He and the Lord both walk “back and forth among them [bones]” (Ezekiel 37:2).
2. Did Ezekiel have other surreal experiences like this? Answer: Yes. “The hand of the Lord” also appears in chapters 1, 3, and 40. “Brought me” also appears in chapters 8, 11, 40, and 43. “By the Spirit” also appears in chapter 11. “Set me” also appears in chapter 40.
3. Where did Ezekiel go? Heaven? Earth? Other?Answer: Remember, this is God’s show, not Ezekiel’s, and God can do whatever He wants. The valley of dry bones probably occurred in a third place “next door” or adjacent to earth.
More importantly, it was a vision from the Lord and with the Lord. What Ezekiel experiences produces a remarkably enduring story with a hope-filled message.
4. Was the vision a 4D interactive experience with Ezekiel and God on the inside? Answer: It’s tempting to imagine Ezekiel putting on a VR headset at the beginning of this whole thing. Instead, the Lord and Ezekiel are in a valley full of dry bones.
Just as Jesus wasn’t made unclean by touching a leper and healing him, so Ezekiel wasn’t made unclean in the presence of bones turning into living persons again.
5. Did Ezekiel ever have a bigger “third place” experience?Answer: Yes, years later he walked through a conditionally promised new Temple. It was magnificent and took nine full chapters to describe (Ezekiel 40-48).
6. How do I sign up to have surreal experiences like Ezekiel?Answer: The New Jerusalem? The New Earth? The New Heavens? No guarantees. We’ll see once we’re there!
More About the Prophet Ezekiel
What exactly did Ezekiel experience? Ezekiel seemed to enjoy a much wider spectrum than any other prophet, including signs, visions, direct prophecy, show-and-tell, parables, poems, proverbs, conditional promises, and “third place” experiences. His vivid language and visuals likely made a strong impression on the children who went into exile. Indeed, we’re still talking about them 2,500 years later.
In all probability, Ezekiel heard Jeremiah’s prophecies while growing up. In chapters 3, 18, and 33, Ezekiel is solemnly charged with the responsibility of serving as a new “watchman” for the kingdom of Judah. That responsibility included warning the righteous not to fall into sin and warning the wicked to repent of their sins — or face God’s pending judgment.
Like Jeremiah, Daniel, and a couple of later prophets, Ezekiel carefully dates the prophecies given to him by the Lord. Ezekiel tells us that he mostly prophesied from six years before the fall of Jerusalem until about a year or so afterward. The Lord’s favorite phrase? “Know that I am the Lord” appears dozens of times throughout Ezekiel’s book.
As an introduction to his prophecies, Ezekiel recounts seeing the Lord’s glory (chapter 1) and receiving God’s call at age 30 to be a prophet, not a priest (chapters 2-3).
The Hebrew Prophet vs. the Jewish Skeptic (Part 1)
We saw how Moses in the Torah and how Isaiah in the Prophets (Nevi’im) prophesied the dispersal, exile and the re-gathering of the Jews to the Land of Israel – events that are facts of Jewish history as well as modern-day happenings. In doing so, they pass the test for Divine inspiration laid down long ago in the Torah
21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed. (Deuteronomy 18: 21-22)
It is because these are persistent prophecies throughout the Tanakh that add credibility to this evidence. For example, take the book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel lived during the first exile (550 BC) in Babylon as shown in the timeline.Ezekiel in Historical Timeline of the Temple Periods
In his book he describes a bizarre vision
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. (Ezekiel 37:1-10)
A man is whisked away to a valley full of bones which start to rattle as they join together forming skeletons, and then dead flesh and skin wraps around the lifeless skeletons so that they become corpses. Then the wind blows wildly from all directions and the bodies all come to life and they stand up to become a great army. This sounds like a script from a horror movie for Halloween! But Ezekiel was not interested in sending shivers down our spines. He claimed that this script was a message from G-d Himself, Blessed be He. To remove all guesswork, he explicitly wrote the meaning of his vision
1 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”
One Nation Under One King
15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim) and all the Israelites associated with him.’17 Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.
18 “When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you tell us what you mean by this?’ 19 say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim’s hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah’s stick. I will make them into a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.’ 20 Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on 21 and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 37:11-23)
The Jews in Ezekiel’s day did return from the Babylonian exile a few decades after this vision, but that was a return only from Babylon, and they remained only a province within the Persian Empire. Ezekiel wrote of a return from ‘the nations’ ‘all around’ back to Israel where they would be ‘one nation’ with their own ‘king’ or government. That did not happen until thousands of years later when the modern state of Israel was formed in 1948. For a nation of 8 million people, having 40% of the population do aliyah from almost half the countries of the globe in the 70 years since independence, after an exile of 1900 years, is nothing short of remarkable. Even more remarkable is that Ezekiel ‘saw’ it in his vision 2500 years ago.
But some who have reflected on this are unconvinced. Prominent among them is Sam Harris, a well-known Jewish American atheist. Here is his objection:
“But just imagine how breathtakingly specific a work of prophecy would be, if it were actually the product of omniscience. If the Bible were such a book, it would make perfectly accurate predictions about human events. You would expect it to contain a passage such as ‘In the latter half of the 20th century, humankind will develop a globally linked system of computers-the principles of which I set forth in Leviticus-and this system shall be called the internet” The Bible contains nothing like this. In fact, it does not contain a single sentence that could not have been written by a man or woman living in the first century. This should trouble you.”
Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation. p.60
Harris mocks the prophecy in the Bible as being just coincidence. In his view, if you ‘predict’ something vague enough (regathering of Jews to Abraham’s Promised Land), eventually it will happen just by chance. He would be impressed if Ezekiel had prophesied timing it to the 20th century and linking the prophecy back to Leviticus. That would be real sign of G-d!
Here are some Scripture I would like to share with you Concerning the Dry Bones. Ezekiel 37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, Ezekiel 37:2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. Ezekiel 37:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Ezekiel 37:4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Ezekiel 37:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: Ezekiel 37:6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. Ezekiel 37:8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Ezekiel 37:9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. Ezekiel 37:10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
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What Does The Bible Say About Consumer Debt? By Anthony Joseph Hopkins
What Does The Bible say about Consumer Debt? This is a very good question. This is simply because the Bible requires a release after 7 years of debt. Deuteronomy 15 discusses consumer debt. First of all, what is consumer debt? Consumer Debt is as follows: Consumer debt consists of personal debts that are owed as a result of purchasing goods that are used for individual or household consumption.
At release of debts. And this is the form of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the Lord’s release.
Deuteronomy 15:1-2 (KJV) At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. 2 And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbor shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbor, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’S release.
“At The End Of Every Seven Years”
The Law of God is filled with SEVENS!
The first SEVEN established was the weekly Sabbath. This is the very first Law that God gave us. Before Adam was created and placed in Eden the Scripture says:
Genesis 2:2-3 (KJV) And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. [3] And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had RESTED (שָׁבַת shabath) from all his work which God created and made.
God SABBATHED on the seventh day, and set it aside for mankind.
When God flooded the earth with water during the time of Noah, God did so because man would not heed His Law. Once Noah and his family entered the Ark seven days later the flood waters began to cover the earth (Genesis 7:10). All who believed God’s Word were saved. Those who did not died in the waters. When the water decreased and Noah and his family rested we read:
Genesis 8:4 (KJV) And the ark RESTED (נוּחַ nuwach) in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
The Ark did what it was intended to do. It saved believing mankind, and excluded the unbeliever who drowned in the Flood. When Noah and his family left the Ark God gave them SEVEN Laws to live by (see Genesis 9). These Laws were:
Not to worship idols Not to curse God To establish courts of justice Not to commit murder Not to commit adultery or be sexually immoral Not to steal Not to eat flesh torn from a living animal
When God raised up the nation of Israel and saved them from enslavement to Egypt He gave them a Law filled with SEVENS.
The Sabbath rest was given in the Law of Moses:
Exodus 20:8-11 (KJV) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: [10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: [11] For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
C.H. Spurgeon noted “Next, there were feast days one month in seven—and then there came every seventh year, a year of rest for the land in which they did not till it, but left it to lie fallow. Then after the seven sevens were complete, there came on the 50th year, an extraordinary year of rest, in addition to the usual one—this was called the year of Jubilee. ”
God gave SEVENS to His people to remind them how gracious He is.
The Lord’s Seven Year Release
In our text today the Lord speaks of the SEVEN Year Release. In Israel then – just as in every country – there were poor Israelites and rich Israelites. God did not want His people to suffer deprivation.
God is LOVE (1 John 4:7-21)
If you are saved by God Who is love, you in turn are supposed to love others, especially your brother and sister. God made a provision among His people where a person who was impoverished could sell themselves to a rich Israelite. God told His people:
Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (KJV) If there be AMONG YOU a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: [8] But thou shalt OPEN THINE HAND WIDE unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.
God had given all of Israel a gracious blessing when He led them out of Egypt and established them in Canaan. God was so good to them! If God saves you, and blesses you, then you, dear friends, are to be gracious to others as God is gracious. That’s what this chapter is about. God told His people to look after one another. He commanded them that if an Israelite sold themselves to another Israelite in order to satisfy a debt, then on every SEVENTH YEAR the one in debt would be released from bondage and their debt forgiven. God even went further with this Law. He said:
Deuteronomy 15:9-11 (KJV) Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, THE SEVENTH YEAR, THE YEAR OF RELEASE, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. [10] Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. [11] For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt OPEN THINE HAND WIDE UNTO THY BROTHER, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
God told His people to not be greedy, and to certainly not attempt to write a loophole into this Seventh Year. God told them that to withhold help from another because the Seventh Year was at hand was EVIL, and would surely be punished. To be generous to others is what God required of His people.
If you have received GRACE, you should give GRACE. If you give GRACE, God gives greater GRACE. This is “The Lord’s Release”
Christ Is Our Release Today
As we look at this text today we find great truths in it that apply to the Christian. Our Lord Jesus did not come to ERASE the Law. He said:
Matthew 5:17-18 (KJV) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. [18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
The JOT and the TITTLE were tiny marks found in the Hebrew written language. Jesus said that He would fulfill the Law.
Jesus DID fulfill the Law. He fulfilled CIRCUMCISION. He fulfilled ANIMAL SACRIFICE.
Under the Law the rite of CIRCUMCISION brought you into the Family of God. But CIRCUMCISION was only enacted on the male, not on the female. God gave the practice of circumcision to Abraham (see Genesis 17:10-14) and said:
Genesis 17:14 (KJV) And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, THAT SOUL SHALL BE CUT OFF from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
You lost your place in Abraham’s Family if you were not circumcised as men. Women were not circumcised. Further, the Law commanded that every sin be covered in the Blood of an animal sacrificed on an altar by a priest. The Law said:
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and WITHOUT SHEDDING OF BLOOD IS NO REMISSION.
The rituals of circumcision and shedding of Blood were written into the Law. These rituals were given to Israel until Christ came. The Bible tells us:
Galatians 3:22-26 (KJV) But the scripture hath concluded ALL UNDER SIN, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. [23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. [24] Wherefore the LAW WAS OUR SCHOOLMASTER TO BRING US UNTO CHRIST, that we might be justified by faith. [25] But after that faith is come, we are NO LONGER UNDER A SCHOOLMASTER. [26] FOR YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.
When Christ came He fulfilled the Law as He was sent to do. The blood of animals and the bloody practice of circumcision showed us all the terror of sin. Sin puts a barrier between us and God.
To remove the barrier of sin the Jewish male was to be circumcised – to shed intimate blood to be in God’s family. The Jewish person whether male or female were to shed animal blood to cover their sins.
That is – until Christ came. The Law of God “was a shadow of good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1). If the animal sacrifices could cleanse us from sin then they would have been done but ONCE.
The Bible says:
Hebrews 10:3-4 (KJV) But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. [4] For it is NOT POSSIBLE THAT THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND OF GOATS SHOULD TAKE AWAY SINS.
The Law taught that we ourselves could not permanently erase our sins. The Law was a schoolmaster that taught us that we needed the Messiah to come. The Law – through its shedding of blood from animals without blemish – demanded that animal sacrifices be made over and over. It demanded that men be circumcised, or be cast out of the Family of God. But then Christ came.
Oh, Praise God for the coming of Christ! It is with His Blood that our sins are covered. It is with His sacrifice that we enter the family of God. He fulfilled the bloodiness of the Law.
Hebrews 10:10-14 (KJV) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had OFFERED ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR EVER, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For BY ONE OFFERING he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
The Law could not save anyone. It can point out sin, and teach of the need of the Messiah. But only Messiah can save. His Blood was offered once and for all. He freed us by His shedding of Blood from sin and selfishness. His offering was once and for all. And by ONE OFFERING Jesus has made us “perfect” and acceptable to God our Father. We who are His are circumcised with a circumcision made without hands. Read these happy words with me:
Colossians 2:11-14 (KJV) In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: [12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. [13] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Christ was circumcised on the eighth day according to the Law (Luke 2:21). Christ died on the Cross as the once and for all sacrifice for sins. When you receive Him as Lord and Savior – casting yourselves upon Him – then what He did is placed on your your account by God the Father. Praise Him!
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
1 Peter 1:18-21 (KJV) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: [20] Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, [21] Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Jesus Christ paid a debt that we could not pay.
This is what we see in the Law. The Law showed us to be bondslaves to sin and to death. But Christ came and paid our debt. He freed us from sin just as Israel was freed from Egypt. He covers us with His Blood. Does it matter now whether we are circumcised or not? The Scripture says:
Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Praise Him! If you have received Christ as Lord and Savior then His life has replaced the blood letting of the Law. And listen to me, Beloved. Saved you are not LAWLESS. Let me say that a few more times.
SAVED you are NOT LAWLESS. You are STILL to be obedient to God’s Law. You are commanded to follow Christ. You are commanded to be holy as God is holy.
What saith the Scripture?
Ephesians 5:1-8 (KJV) BE YE THEREFORE FOLLOWERS OF GOD, AS DEAR CHILDREN; [2] And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. [3] But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; [4] Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. [5] For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. [6] Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. [7] Be not ye therefore partakers with them. [8] For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
There are some that teach that once you become a Christian then you may walk contrary to the Law of God. Beloved, it is not so. Jesus fulfilled the blood of the Law, but did not eradicate morality.
Because of Christ the morality of the Law is greater upon the Christian.
When Jesus taught, He BUILT FENCES AROUND THE LAW. Rather than eradicate the morality of the Law Jesus erected barriers to protect the commands of God. In one instance Jesus said: Matthew 5:19-22 (KJV) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. [21] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: [22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Jesus took the Sixth Commandment – Thou shalt not murder (Exodus 20:13) – and put a fence of love around it. To carry a grudge against your brother or sister for whom Christ died is as bad as murdering someone. To lust in your heart after a woman (Matthew 5:28, 32) is as bad as committing adultery (Exodus 20:14). Saved by the Blood of Christ you are called to love all – and especially those within the family of God.
That is the heart of our text that we read today. Read it with me one more time.
Deuteronomy 15:1-2 (KJV) At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. 2 And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbor shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbor, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’S release.
The Israelite was not to hold indebtedness against another Israelite. They were to be RELEASED every seventh year. The Israelite was indebted to God because He saved them from Egypt and gave them His Promised Land.
Dear Christian, God saved you with a mighty hand when He sent Christ to bear your sins and your failures. When you received Him as Lord and Savior your debts were paid. They were paid not so that you sell yourselves back into slavery with sin and the world, but were paid in full so that you can freely live in God’s Presence. Having been saved freely (for salvation is a free gift from God) you should love others as you have been loved. If the Israelite was supposed to forgive their brother’s debt, then we have a much greater obligation to forgive. We are to love one another fervently. We are to love God with all our hearts and all our works.
We are obligated to love and follow Him Who saved us. Following Him we will find blessedness and peace. Following Christ we will love. We will release our brothers or sisters from their debts.
Deuteronomy 15:13-15 (KJV) And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: [14] Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. [15] And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.
As you have been blessed of God, so you should bless others. And you should REMEMBER. REMEMBER that when Christ died for you, you were a sinner with no concern for God. Yet Christ died for you. REMEMBER that you still stumble – as do we all – and yet “the blood of Christ keeps on cleansing us”:
1 John 1:7-9 (KJV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. [8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
It is amazing to me that any Christian would carry a grudge against another Christian. We are to forgive as God forgave us. The Blood of Christ keeps on cleansing us from sin. Oh glory, we need not do penance to pay for our sins. Christ paid for them all. So when a lost person sins against you – forgive him anyway.
Matthew 5:44-45 (KJV) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Both Great And New Commandments Demand Love
Love your brother or sister in Christ. If they offend you, remember you offended God. Love them anyway. You failed God but He keeps on loving you. Let love define us. Let love define His Church. Jesus gave us His Church a Great Commandment and a New Commandment. The Great Commandment states:
Mark 12:30-31 (KJV) And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. [31] And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Whereas the New Commandment says:
John 13:34-35 (KJV) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Every seven years those who were bondslaves in Israel were to be released. Yet if the servant willingly wanted to stay in the household of the Master:
Deuteronomy 15:16-17 (KJV) And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; [17] Then thou shalt take an awl, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.
The servant could choose to stay because of love. If that servant chose to stay then the Master of the house would put his ear on the doorpost of that home, and the Master would pierce his ear with an awl. There is one more beautiful principle found in this text that applies to us who are Christ’s today.
We permanently belong to Jesus. We willingly belong to Jesus.
When Jesus died on the Cross for my sins, He was pierced through with nails, thorns, and a spear. He died for me. Because He died for me, I live for Him. I am indebted to my Jesus. I have willingly put my ear on the doorposts of Heaven, and my Jesus has pierced my ear through. I no longer belong to myself. I belong to Jesus. Beloved, to Whom do you belong? If you have been saved by faith in Christ then you are NOT your own – you are BOUGHT with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23). I belong to Jesus. Do you?
If you do not, today is the time to look toward Him and be saved. Confess Him as Savior and Lord. Let Him lead you out of Egypt and into the Promised Land where He rules and reigns. Oh, what a glory it is to know Christ and enjoy His Presence! Will you not come? Oh that God would lead you to come and dine at His table this very day!
May God touch your hearts with His Word.
Currently, the Lord’s Release applies today. It means that if a person does not pay their debts, it is labeled as a Charge Off Due to Bad Debt. The Seven Year Principle applies to everyone. For Instance, when it comes to student loan debt, it has to be paid in full. The Seven Year Principle does not apply to student loans or any personal loan.
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