Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Thursday September 10, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of Ezekiel, please read chapters 33-36 in your Bible or Click Here to read them. http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-september-10

Today's Message: Stop Complaining
If things are not going the way you planned, it's time to stop complaining, repent, and seek God for guidance. You can turn any situation around as long as you put your efforts, faith and trust in Him.

Both Jeremiah who was in Jerusalem and Ezekiel who was in Babylon continuously warned the Israelite's that Judah and Jerusalem would be destroyed if they did not turn from their wicked ways. Yet, the Israelite's who remained in Jerusalem disregarded their warnings and now the prophecies are coming to pass. God Said to Ezekiel, “Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.............So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” - Ezekiel 33:2-4,7-11. The watchman was Ezekiel and he was to sound the trumpet to warn those who were living in sin that judgment was coming so they could have one last chance to repent before they get destroyed. This was a command fro m God, He did not want to see His people destroyed, He wanted them to live. Today, we as Christian's are the watchman and we are to warn every one about Christ's return so they too have a chance to repent and turn from their wicked ways.

You would think that this would have gotten the Israelite's to drop to their knees and repent so they did not have to face judgment? However, they refused to repent and now their loved ones in Babylon are criticizing and complaining to God about their families and homeland being destroyed. Answering them, God said, “If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.” - Ezekiel 33:15-20. What God is saying here is to everyone, including us Christian's, that everyone is responsible for their own actions, regardless of whether or not we are His chosen people. If we continue to live in sin and not repent we face judgment and death, just as the rest of the world, but if we repent and turn from our sin that sin will no longer be remembered and we will live, including those whom have lived wicked lives. God is no respector of persons, whether we are Christian's or not we will suffer if we do not repent. Although we can be an example to our loved ones, we can not be responsible for them, they must take responsibility for their own actions. God can save them too, but they must be willing to take that step, nothing we do for them can change their situation, they must be willing to make that effort themselves.

It is mind boggling to think that there are Christian's out there who think that they are above the law. Just because we have accepted Christ into our lives that does not mean that we are exempt from facing judgment if we continue to live in sin. Yes, we are saved from hell, but being a Christian is far more than just saying that I believe in Jesus as the Son of God who died for our sins. When one accepts Christ into their lives he/she is acknowledging that Jesus is his/her Savior and that he/she is ready to be reborn and new. Of course change does not happen all at once, but day by day those who accept Christ truthfully literally become a new person. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” - Romans 6:3-6.

It's time to stop complaining and start doing something about the situations that we either get ourselves into or have no control over, stop blaming God and take responsibility for your own actions. We may have some problems, but we can get through them, we just need to put God first and let Him guide us. Do you think He wants to see us suffering? No! God loves us all, but unless we endure some suffering we will never know how much He loves us. Remember what Jesus went through in order to save us. If that is not love for His people than I do not know what is. He wants everyone to have a good, prosperous life, the best life we can have and that goes for all of us, including the biggest sinner out there, but we must be willing to put our trust in Him to get us there.

Today's Prayer:

Dear God,
Lord, Your almighty power is balanced with Your tender compassion toward all of creation. It is because of Your abundant mercies that we are not consumed or utterly forsaken. You provide exceedingly more than the bare essentials for our earthly dwelling. Your abiding presence provides faithfulness, stability, and expectant hope for every challenge we face. Thank You for clothing us with dignity, providing us with salvation and for abiding with us day in and day out. In Jesus' Name...........Amen


Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and enjoy the rest of your week.
God Bless You,
Christina


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