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Ezekiel 7 (ESV)

²⁰ His beautiful ornament they used for pride, and they made their abominable images and their detestable things of it. Therefore I make it an unclean thing to them. ²¹ And I will give it into the hands of foreigners for prey, and to the wicked of the earth for spoil, and they shall profane it. ²² I will turn my face from them, and they shall profane my treasured place. Robbers shall enter and profane it.

²³ “Forge a chain! For the land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of violence. ²⁴ I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the strong, and their holy places shall be profaned. ²⁵ When anguish comes, they will seek peace, but there shall be none. ²⁶ Disaster comes upon disaster; rumor follows rumor. They seek a vision from the prophet, while the law perishes from the priest and counsel from the elders. ²⁷ The king mourns, the prince is wrapped in despair, and the hands of the people of the land are paralyzed by terror. According to their way I will do to them, and according to their judgments I will judge them, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

REFLECTION:

God gave people gold, silver and all kinds of gorgeous materials, but people used them to make idols. The resources God gives us should be used to do God’s work and carry out God’s will. Sometimes, like the Israelites back then, we often use them to show our own glory and satisfy our desires. When we abuse God’s gifts or selfishly use resources, we lose the true purpose of worshiping God and are as proud and short-sighted as idolaters. The people of Jerusalem are very proud of their buildings, and the temple itself has become their proud capital. After the evil and unbelieving Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the Holy Land, this pride was completely shattered. Reflect what desires I have today has turned into my idol. What capital do I have become a source of my pride? May God destroy our idols, stop our pride, and keep us from falling into the situation of the Israelites.

PRAYER:

Pray for the church, asking God to make the church conform to God’s will in all its ministries, without mixing people’s desires, not promoting human pride, not robbing God’s glory, especially not creating all kinds of tangible and intangible idols; Pray that God will enable you to have a deeper understanding of holiness in the church ministry you participate in, and be willing to live a more holy life.

HYMN:

Glory To God Forever – youtu.be/W_LFa275HVE