EZEKIEL & DANIEL

It is Sunday!  I've had a cup of coffee and have done my reading, and now I have a little time to write on a few things.  I'm so looking forward to Church today!  Thank God for Church!  Here are a few thoughts: 1) AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD- This phrase is mentioned 23 times in Ezekiel.  God wants to prove something to His people and to the heathen as well.  You will see that sometimes that this phrase is mentioned four times in one chapter, like chapters 28 and 30, each with four phrases each.  God wants to let us know that He is the LORD.  Do you know that?  2) LIKE TO HEAR, BUT NOT OBEY- Ezekiel 33:32 says:  "And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not."   They like the sound of God's Word, but don't want to obey it.  They like to listen to His messengers, but do not like to obey what they say.  If we are not careful, we too can get to where we like to hear preaching, but don't make the applications.  I hope that we will stay clear of this type of thinking and response towards God.  Let us be in the crowd that loves to listen, and loves to obey His Word. 3) THE LORD IS THERE.  This are the last four words of Ezekiel, found in Chapter 48:35.  After all of the judgment spelled out in Ezekiel, we find when all is said and done, that Jerusalem will ultimately be called:  "The LORD is there."  It just shows us that God is not through with Israel yet.  It is still the land and city of His choosing.  One day, new Jerusalem will come down out of heaven and be placed upon the land that God granted Abraham.  Then all will know that "the LORD is there!" 4) PROVE THY SERVANTS- In Daniel 1:12, Daniel said to Melzar the prince of the eunuchs:  "Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink."  I like that phrase:  "Prove thy servants".  For those know to Christ and Church, they need to allow time to "prove thy servants".  In time they will see that what the preacher is preaching is true and will transform their lives with the working of the Holy Spirit.  The proof is in the preaching! Hope you have a blessed day in the LORD at Church today!  Pastor Mike Mutchler