Thought for the Week - 17th May
Pastor Gareth WatkinsIn this period of lock down, God continues to build His church and further His kingdom, despite all that is happening around us in these days, God continues to draw His people to Him. We have seen more people joining us for services and bible studies than ever before, and we continue to be blessed in many ways.
Ezekiel 18:4
“Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.’’
Ezekiel 36:24-28
“For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.
25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.’’
Here Ezekiel is talking to a people held in captivity in Babylon, he is telling the promises made by God to deliver His people out of captivity. Just as in the days of Moses, for the children of Israel in Egypt, God draws His people out of captivity to be made holy, cleansed, given a new heart and His spirit. This is also true for us in these days. God is drawing His people out of captivity right now, out of sin, to be the bride of Christ, to be cleansed of sin and freed from bondage. This is what happens when we follow Christ, when we choose to go with Him, as God’s people, to a place that the Lord has prepared for us, where God Jehovah, is above all else.
In Exodus we read that God came to the children of Israel, a sinful, oppressed, beaten and enslaved people. God came to them using Moses as His prophet to free them from their captivity, protect them and save them. We see how God guided them, fought for them and planted an inheritance in their hearts.
If we go with Christ we will also receive this inheritance, we will be protected, guided and freed, just as those told of in Exodus and Ezekiel. Are you in need of guidance? Do you need to be fought for, given a hope and inheritance? The inheritance of the kingdom of God comes to those who choose to walk with God, who choose to walk with Jesus Christ. Do you need to be released from bondage? Are you in need of saving?
If so, then the question is, would you go with Jesus Christ today? Not in part, but give Him your all holding nothing back? Would you go with Christ through the wilderness, through the troubles and the unknown, to a place where your eternal inheritance is waiting for you? If you would go with this man, you will become part of God’s people, part of His royal priesthood, a holy nation praising His name, joining those who have gone before and be brought into his marvelous light.
Amen.
An encouraging word.
Thank you for sharing