TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 6:1-15
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. - Matthew 6:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Jordan was six months old, his father, Charles Monroe King—a decorated soldier—was killed in combat in Iraq. Anticipating the danger he was facing, Charles had written a 200-page journal that he left behind for his son. Written while serving in that “hot terrifying place,” the father’s words were left as a legacy and reminder of his abiding love. Charles wrote on many topics including faith, love, duty, honor, and practical things like safe places to keep money on a trip. Still a child, Jordan doesn’t fully comprehend the tragedy he has suffered. But the words of his dad will certainly be a treasure to him in the future and help to him in times of need.

In today’s verse, Jesus says, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” This text is part of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 through 7, delivered when Jesus had gone up a mountainside to teach (5:1). The sermon focuses on the way that inhabitants of the kingdom of God should live.

Today’s passage speaks about charity and prayer. The first section stresses that “acts of righteousness” should not be performed before others, but rather done in private. This way, says Jesus, “your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (v. 4). Prayer is viewed in a similar manner, not as a showy, demonstrative act, but as a private way of communing with our heavenly Father.

Jesus says, “Do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues” (v. 5). Prayer is not an opportunity to demonstrate how holy we are, or try to impress others with our flowery verbiage, or to seem super pious as if we are better than someone else. Indeed, we should pray for an audience of one: our Father (v. 6).

In one of the most famous passages of Scripture, Jesus says a prayer to His Father and ours. The Lord’s Prayer demonstrates the communion between our Father and His children.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today, pray the Lord’s Prayer, alone or with your family. As you repeat these famous words of adoration, confession, and supplication, concentrate on your heavenly Father. Consider that these words of advice and instruction, found in the Gospel of Matthew, are a journal of sorts left for you. Like Jordan, we cannot see our father. Yet, we have been given a book with His words, meant to guide us through our lives. What a treasure we have in God’s Word to us!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 3:5-17
Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness humility, gentleness and patience. - Colossians 3:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the tale The Emperor’s New Clothes, a wealthy vain ruler is consumed with his own appearance. He hires two weavers to create outfits that will mesmerize the masses. The clever weavers decide to take advantage of the emperor’s conceit and play a trick on him. They convince him that they have woven the most magical material that only the wisest and most important people can see. So they go through the motions of weaving this magical cloth and make a cloak for the king. Of course, the material did not exist, nor did the cloak, and the emperor parades through the streets naked. He is convinced that he should be able to see the clothing, so he pretends that he does.

Today’s passage speaks about the way we, as believers, are clothed, not with cloth that can be seen, but with the qualities of God’s righteous character. It depicts a contrast between the way we appeared without Christ and the way our lives are transformed afterward. Before Christ we are marked by our “earthly nature.” We are characterized by ugly things like sexual immorality, greed, selfishness, rage, malice, and filthy language (vv. 5-8). Certainly, these behaviors are not becoming of royalty!

Paul compares our change in lifestyle to changing clothing. We are to recognize our position in Christ (vv. 1-4), “take off” (v. 9) these old behaviors, and “put on the new self” (v. 10). How wonderful to know that we are no longer destined to wear the old tattered clothing that represents our sinful nature. Instead we are treated to glorious new clothes of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness (v. 13). Of course, “taking off” these old habits and desires must be aided by God. We are still living with earthly habits. It is through the Holy Spirit that we daily put on these new clothes.

This behavior brings great reward. Through it we are ruled by unity and peace. Through it we are filled with thankfulness and gratitude. We are transformed and perfected, as we dwell in God’s love.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As you get dressed today or tomorrow, consider how you choose the clothing you put on. Do you put on your paint-splattered sweatshirt to attend a church or business meeting? Would you wear your old, beat-up gym shoes to a nice restaurant? Just as you put clothing on your body appropriate for the task at hand, pray that God will help you put on His righteousness: qualities of love, compassion, kindness, thankfulness, gentleness—garments appropriate for the life He has given us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 1:1-18
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything. - James 1:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
What frustration to work on a complicated, mind-boggling, 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, get to the end, and realize that one piece is missing! Most of us would search under every table and rug to try to find that one missing piece. Why? Because, without it, the picture is incomplete, marred. We look at the picture we have created and all we notice is the missing part. The puzzle is not and cannot be finished.

The Christian life, like a puzzle, can be marred by a missing piece of Christ-like character. In the same way that we would search for a missing puzzle piece in order to complete the picture, so too we need to endeavor to be complete in the qualities that point others to Jesus.

The book of James begins with what seems like a strange sort of pep talk: “Consider it pure joy . . . whenever you face trials” (v. 2). As James explains, though, this is not a masochistic reveling in pain and suffering. Rather, we can have joy because these trials that weface are for a purpose: “that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (v. 3). Perseverance means finishing what we start, completing what has been begun, or sticking to the job. Perseverance enables us to press on toward maturity and completeness, “not lacking anything” (v. 4).

The experience of trials allows us to develop the qualities that lead to the completion of a beautiful character that honors God. God will not rest until He has placed the last piece of the puzzle in our lives. These trials are merely sanding the edges of our imperfection, wearing down our old, selfish, human nature. We find perfection not in pampering, but in difficulty. That may not be the answer we want to hear.

The chapter ends with a warning: “Don’t be deceived. . . . Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change” (vv. 16-17). He will help us persevere to the end.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
“Finish what you start” is a lesson that many of us resist. What tasks in your life have gone unfinished? Was it a knitting project that sits in a bag in a closet or a piece of trim that never got attached to a baseboard? Or a Sunday school class that you quit teaching, or the discipline of tithing that is now abandoned? In your Christian life, ask God to help you persevere. Ask God to help you finish the work He has begun in you, to help you be faithful to the end.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 4:4-9
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything . . . present your requests to God. - Philippians 4:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
For some children, all sorts of situations cause worry. They have paralyzing fear about homework, schedules, and teachers. They agonize whether they are going to fail a test or have friends to sit by in the cafeteria. The fear can even make them physically ill. Psychologists say the cause of anxiety disorders in children is both biological and conditional. Some children are more prone to being shy or perfectionists, and these tendencies show up during the school years when pressures increase. Anxiety disorders are not limited to children, but also plague countless adults.

In our discussion about our self-image and identity, we often focus on external characteristics like appearance or possessions or accomplishments. But what about internal issues that threaten to derail our secure identity in Christ?

Today’s passage in Philippians is worth committing to memory, for it offers advice for those who are anxious in spirit. It begins with a command, “Rejoice!” (v. 4). The command may seem puzzling, worry has just been mentioned. When are we to “rejoice”? The answer is “always.” But the source of our rejoicing is not found in ourselves or our circumstances, but “in the Lord” (v. 5). Our lives are embedded and transformed in Christ. We are not our old selves.

The reason we can rejoice is found in verse 5: “the Lord is near.” God is near to you today. He knows you and your circumstances. He knows what you will do and say. He goes before you. Therefore, the next verse makes sense. “Do not be anxious about anything” (v. 6). This is perhaps the best advice that can be given. We can tell everything to God—even all of our worries. God is the only one who can see the future. He is the only one who can truly help. In return, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (v. 7). What better news can we get? The peace of God is ours.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In order to find peace, we have to spend time in the presence of God. Too often we fill our lives with talking, reading, or doing something. Today, meet with God in silence. Close your eyes and meditate on His character. Be still, and know that He is God (Ps. 46:10). You can cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Not only does He care, but He is all-powerful and able to bear any burden. Allow the peace of God to calm your anxious heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 58:8-14
You will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. - Isaiah 58:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
In June 2009, 9-year-old Grayson Wynne was lost in Utah’s Ashley National Forest. His family had been hiking when the young boy separated from the group. While searchers combed the area, the little boy tried to leave clues to his whereabouts. As he walked he tore and dropped pieces of his yellow raincoat. He spent the night under a log, thinking about his parents, praying and crying. Because of the clues Grayson left behind and a granola wrapper that fell to the trail, a helicopter spotted the boy waving to them in an open meadow. He was waving the last piece of his yellow raincoat. When the father reached the boy, Grayson’s first words were, “Happy Father’s Day.” Imagine the joyful reunion between the father and his young son.

Today’s passage in Isaiah talks about another dramatic rescue: God’s rescue of His children. There are times when we, as believers, are in desperate straits. We may have wandered away from the path. We need our Father’s help. The prophet addressed the nation of Israel, a people infamous for wandering. In this passage, Isaiah tells God’s people the proper way to fast. He talks about true worship rather than merely going through outward motions.

Once we are in proper communion with God, our lives will shine: “Then your light will break forth like the dawn” (v. 8). All of the “thens” in this passage speak of what God will do or has done in response to our union with Him. As believers, we have been made new creations by God, so these truths apply. The most dramatic verses speak of God’s help. “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer” (v. 9). Like a 911-rescue team waiting to help, God is ready to hear our calls. Verse 11 echoes that assurance: “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs.” Your Father sees you. He knows where you are. He is ready and waiting to answer your call for help. His dramatic rescue saves us from death and gives us a life that shines brightly in this world.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you ever seen God’s hand guiding your life? Take some time to write out your story, whether it recounts the events when you came to faith in Christ, or knew God was leading you in a big decision, or experienced God’s loving correction from some mistakes and wandering from way of holiness. These experiences strengthen us in other times when we need God’s direction. Additionally, your story might be the encouragement that someone else needs to hear. God is faithful to lead, guide, and protect His children.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:1-21
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
During the recent recession, many people have decided to apply some elbow grease and creativity to turn something old into something new. Author Margot Starbuck applies colorful pieces of fabric to thrift-store clothes to create personalized designer clothes for herself and her family. One store in Zurich, Switzerland, specializes in old furniture that has been repainted with colorful children’s characters. And activity on Freecycle, a Web site that allows users to give away their unneeded items to someone else, has never been busier.

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he describes the believer’s hope of resurrection. The passage begins in verse 1 with a contrast between a temporary “earthly tent” (the body we now have) with an “eternal house in heaven” (the believer’s resurrected body) (v. 1). In this tent, says Paul, we “groan” (v. 2) with a longing to be clothed with our resurrected body.

Though we have not achieved perfect holiness yet, God has sent the Holy Spirit as a “deposit” (v. 5). Because of His presence in our life, we know that we are guaranteed a heavenly future and all that comes with eternity. Even now, He is preparing us for our eternal destiny of life with God.

Our goal in this life is to please God (v. 9). We will appear before the “judgment seat of Christ” to give an account of how we have lived, and our motivation and goal is to have Him pleased with us (v. 10). This new perspective on life changes not only our view of ourselves, but also the way we relate to others. In the second half of the passage, Paul shows how Christ’s love motivated him to persuade others to believe the gospel. We no longer live for ourselves (v. 15). We are now “Christ’s ambassadors” (v. 20), representing the message of His life-changing salvation.

In Christ we are made new: “the old is gone, the new has come!” (v. 17). This is nothing less than a transforming miracle, from the death of sin to life with Christ; “we [have] become the righteousness of God!” (v. 21).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Each of us struggles to focus on life as a new creation in Christ, putting off our old self with our worldly habits. To find our identity in Christ, we must put away “old ways” of evaluating our self worth. How do you measure yourself? How do you evaluate your identity? If you find yourself clinging to an old narrative about yourself—whether defining yourself by failures or successes—relinquish your grip and allow the Holy Spirit to make you conformed to the image of Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 119:97-117
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies. - Psalm 119:98
TODAY IN THE WORD
The group Mensa was founded in England in 1946 by barrister Roland Berrill and Dr. Lance Ware. The lawyer and scientist had the idea of establishing a society for extraordinarily bright people. The only requirement for membership was a high IQ. The society continues to welcome people from all races and religions, as long as their IQs are in the top 2 percent of the population. Mensans, as they are called, range in age from 4 to 94. They include farmers, musicians, lawyers, and police officers. Some members of Mensa are famous, but most have names you would not recognize.

Today’s passage talks about the benefits of God’s wisdom as it is displayed in our lives. The psalmist begins the section with an exclamation: “Oh, how I love your law!” (v. 97). This enthusiasm for God’s Word is notable. He meditates on it “all day long.” The result? He is wiser than his enemies and has wisdom that surpasses his teachers (vv. 98-99). Age alone isn’t a guarantee of understanding; the key is obedience to the precepts in God’s Word (v. 100). The psalmist does not just acquire knowledge—he also acts on it.

It seems, from this passage, that the more the author devours the Word of God, the more he desires it (v. 103). This wisdom, gleaned not from his own understanding but by learning of the mind and heart of God, impacts his daily life. It keeps him from walking down “wrong paths” (v. 104).

The next verses are often memorized: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (v. 105). As our knowledge of God and His law increases, we have access to guidance and safety. God’s Word is not abstract principles with no connection to our lives. We need to do more than simply read over the words. When we apply Scripture to our lives, we will find our steps directed in the ways of life (v. 119).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The psalm today reminds us that trying to live our lives without help from God’s Word is like walking through life without a light. You don’t need to be a member of Mensa to be wise. God’s Word provides counsel and wisdom and light to safeguard our hearts and minds. If you don’t have a regular habit of memorizing Scripture, this might be a good time to start. Choose one verse from today’s reading and commit it to memory this week.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Timothy 1:1-12
God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power. - 2 Timothy 1:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
All of the characters in the classic book and film The Wizard of Oz were in desperate need of help. Dorothy wanted to go back to her home in Kansas. The scarecrow wanted a brain. The tin man wanted a heart. The Cowardly Lion desperately wants to be brave. In one scene, Dorothy scolds the awkward trembling beast: “My goodness what a fuss you’re making! Why you’re nothing but a great big coward!” The Lion cries, “You’re right. I am a coward. I haven’t any courage at all. I even scare myself!”

Sometimes we, too, haven’t any courage at all. In the face of difficulty or opposition, our courage flounders, and we retreat into ourselves. How do we find a way to be brave in the face of danger? In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he reminds the young man that he remembers him in his prayers night and day (1:3). What an encouragement the prayers of others are to troubled and fearful hearts!

He tells Timothy to “fan into flame” the gift of God so that he has a spirit not of “timidity” but of “power” (vv. 6-7). Paul instructs Timothy not to be fearful of testifying about God or ashamed of Paul being in prison (v. 8). Instead, Timothy is to join forces with Paul in “suffering for the gospel by the power of God” (v. 9).

The end purpose of our journey is what gives us courage. We know the end of the story! We know that God will prevail! Ours is a God who “destroyed death” (v. 10). Even the grave could not conquer our Lord and Savior. This victory gives us great courage. We do not need to be fearful, even in the face of the grave. Verse 12 has been set to music as a hymn: “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” We can trust in God. He has promised to keep us. We are brave in and through Him.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What is your greatest fear? Many of us have fears of things like heights, public speaking, or mice. Other fears attack us deeply in the core of our being, like fear of failure, losing our job, rejection, or being alone. Today’s passage reminds us that God has not given us a spirit of fear. In Him we can be free from being consumed and paralyzed by fear. Pray today that God will take your fear and replace it with a spirit of courage.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Timothy 2:1-13
Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 2:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Before Arnold Schwarzenegger became the governor of California, and even before he was known as an action-film hero, he was renowned for his extraordinary strength and body building. Schwarzenegger began weight training at age 15. When he was just 22, he won the title of Mr. Universe and then went on to capture top billing at the Mr. Olympia contest seven times. The Arnold Strongman Classic, a contest named for him, continues each year in Columbus, Ohio. Who will be the strongest this year?

Today’s verse instructs us to “be strong” (2 Tim. 2:1). This strength doesn’t come from pumping iron. It’s not even an emotional stoicism, trying to appear unmoved. This type of strength is again connected to the grace we find in Jesus. Only in knowing our position as recipients of God’s grace can we find strength to withstand persecution.

Verse 3 puts it another way, exhorting us to “endure hardship” (v. 3). Life in Jesus does not mean that we will exist without trouble. We will be enduring hard times and difficult situations. Our response to these is emphasized here. Paul compares the believer to a “good soldier.” Our goal is not to please those around us but only our “commanding officer” (v. 4). The same principle extends to athletes. During competition, the focus is not on the competition but on the crown (v. 5). We endure hardship because our eyes are not on the current situation—but on the end goal.

Our focus should be to “remember Jesus Christ raised from the dead” (v. 8). Because Jesus endured the cross and God raised Him from the dead, we know that even our times of trouble can lead to God’s deliverance. Therefore, says Paul, “I endure everything,” even imprisonment for the sake of the gospel (v. 10). In another passage, Paul describes this irony of discovering true strength in our times of greatest weakness. “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10 ). When our lives are embedded in Christ, we are made strong.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today’s passage shows how God’s idea of strength is flipped upside down from traditional expectations. We do not need to prove that anyone else is weaker. We do not trust in our bulging muscles or our stiff upper lip. Instead, we are to keep our focus on the reality of what Christ has done and what God will do in our lives. No matter what type of challenge you are facing right now, pray that God will give you strength, endurance, and an eternal focus.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 8:28-38
If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Victory Lap or “lap of honor” is the extra lap a winning race car driver takes around the track in celebration of his victory. The Victory Lap is a time when the driver can drive at a slower speed, allowing the fans to celebrate and greet and congratulate the winner. Recent changes in race regulations have limited what a Formula One driver can do during that lap. The new rule states that all cars must proceed directly to the end point without distraction or assistance. Even that last lap has one focus: the prize waiting at the end.

Many of the passages in this month’s study have focused on the struggles we face in this life as we live out the daily Christian life. And we may often feel less than victorious. Today’s passage focuses on the victory lap we have as believers. Romans 8:28 has a description of our calling. Those called by God know that He will work all things together for good. We know that we will be conformed to Christ’s likeness (v. 29). God can redeem each experience in our lives to mold us into His image for His glory.

This kind of thinking transforms the way we think and live. Paul asks: “If God is for us who can be against us?” (v. 31). Ultimately, our victory doesn’t depend on our own endurance or ingenuity. Our victory depends on who God is and what He will do. We are God’s chosen children and nothing can separate us from God’s love (v. 35).

Whatever we face in the midst of the race of life, we can be assured that we will be victorious in the end. Verse 37 says that we are “more than conquerors.” Notice the use of the word “more”—we go beyond just being victorious. This is a type of ultimate victory that promises not only making it through the final days of life on this earth but also guarantees us a place by our Father in Heaven. This type of thinking will transform the way we view ourselves and our daily lives.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Perhaps one of Satan’s greatest tricks is to get us so focused on ourselves, our weaknesses and insecurities, that we take our eyes off our Savior. There is an old hymn that asks us to “turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.” Will you turn your eyes on Jesus today? Will you set aside your search for self and replace it with the knowledge that in Christ you are made glorious? We are perfected in Him. We are completed in Him. In Him, we are victorious!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Jude 17-24
Build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. - Jude 20
TODAY IN THE WORD
Cartoon characters like Pinocchio or Fred Flintstone are sometimes pictured with an imaginary friend hovering over their shoulder. In many episodes, Jiminy Cricket or the Great Gazoo would scold Pinocchio or Fred, warning them against making the wrong choice, or urging them to take a particular action.

Sometimes we might wish that we had a little conscience sitting on our shoulder, reminding us to stay on our diet or be honest on our taxes or hold our tongue. We don’t have Jiminy Cricket, but we have something even better—we have the Holy Spirit living within us and we have the Word of God to instruct us. Today’s passage is from the book of Jude, which is a single chapter filled with both caution and encouragement to those living in the faith at a time when others have abandoned it. Jude cautions that believers should “remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold” (v. 17).

As in Jude’s day, “scoffers” and others will live out their “ungodly desires” (v. 18). We are not to follow these types of people. The way to combat these negative, blasphemous voices is to “build yourselves up” (v. 20). Note that this is not a by-your-bootstraps spirituality. This is not about personal positive mantras or giving ourselves an ego boost. We are to become deeply rooted in our “holy faith” (v. 20). The more the scoffers increase around us, the more earnestly we must pursue the truth of God’s Word.

Verse 22 tells us practical ways to do this. We are to be “merciful” and to “snatch others from the fire”—to be rescuers of the perishing. Finally, Jude ends with a beautiful doxology that is a wonderful way to culminate this study. Only God is able to “keep us from falling.” Through God’s power, we will be presented before Him “without fault and with great joy” (v. 24). What an amazing promise. By persevering in this present time of conflict, we will be made perfect in the end!

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We began this study looking at our identity as it is found in Christ. We have found that our focus needs to be not on ourselves but upon Christ. Make a list today of the attributes of Christ that you would most like to see reflected in your own life. At the top of the list write these words: “MORE HIM; LESS ME.” Pray today that God will help to change your focus, and that day by day you would begin to look more like your Savior.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 12:1-1
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. - 1 John 5:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Runners training for a marathon spend weeks and months in preparation for the race. They eat the right foods, go to bed early, and endure grueling training regimens in order to prepare both body and spirit for the challenge ahead. What motivates a runner to run a marathon? Martine Costello, in an interview with CNN Money had this answer: “It’s a challenge that we take on, with just our hearts and the body God gave us. We run because if we can make it through 26.2 miles, everything else will seem easy. Marathons offer a moment in time when an average person can feel like Michael Jordan and do something extraordinary.”

“An average person doing something extraordinary” is a wonderful description of who we can be in Christ. Today’s passage places us in the thick of the race that is our Christian journey. We are not alone, but are “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses” (v. 1). The writer encourages us to finish the race well and to “run with perseverance.” We are not to be consumed by endless introspection or accept the self-help mentality touted by the world, but rather to “fix our eyes on Jesus” (v. 2).

In this race, Jesus is our example. He endured struggle and scorn and shame. Yet He completed His calling. We will also endure struggle as we walk with Jesus (v. 4). We are asked here to see some of this “hardship” as discipline (v. 7). We are not promised an easy life but a purposeful one. We are children of God, and thus will be both rewarded and disciplined by a Heavenly and loving Father (v. 10). This is God’s way of molding us into His image.

As the author reminds us, we are to “throw off everything that hinders us” (v. 1). As we complete this study on finding our identity in Christ, we must throw off the temptation to define ourselves by our own past, present, or future. By fixing our eyes on Jesus, we will finish the race victorious.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Anyone who has ever tried to run knows that it is not easy. The initial excitement that comes with a new pair of gym shoes can quickly be extinguished by a gut-wrenching side ache. Yet, consistent training makes running increasingly satisfying. As you run the race of your Christian life, keep your focus not on your daily aches and insecurities, but on who you are in Christ and how He is shaping you. Run the race with perseverance—you are guaranteed a victorious finish!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ezekiel 1:1-3
The heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. - Ezekiel 1:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Bible scholar Richard Patterson has pointed out the numerous literary forms and genres present in Old Testament prophecy. His list includes announcements of judgment (typically revolving around human sin and God’s justice), kingdom oracles (including themes of redemption, restoration, and blessing), instructional accounts (exhorting hearers to repentance and worship), prayers, hymns or psalms, satire, laments, and vision reports. In the book of Ezekiel, these literary forms and genres create a rich “kaleidoscope of material” that challenges interpreters to be diligent and alert about how language is used.

As we begin this month’s book study of Ezekiel, we need to heed Patterson’s admonition. Ezekiel is an exciting and complex book in which settings and literary genres shift rapidly. Chapters 15 through 18, for example, are instructional accounts. Chapters 25 through 32 are announcements of judgment. Chapter 37 is a kingdom oracle. Careful handling of God’s Word will, as always, yield the best results (2 Tim. 2:15).

Like Jeremiah and Zechariah, Ezekiel was a priest in addition to being a prophet. His name means “God strengthens.” Based on his literary style and wide knowledge of history, culture, and politics, he seems to have been well educated. Along with a cohort of fellow Israelites, he was exiled to Babylon in 597 B.C. He received his prophetic call in 593 B.C. at the age of 30. In chapters 1 through 24, he preached mainly about the coming destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, which took place in 586 B.C. Following that event, he continued prophesying for another fifteen years. In chapters 25 through 32 he brought messages of judgment to other nations. The final main section of the book, chapters 33 through 48, is a word of hope and promise for the humbled people of God. The book’s main themes include judgment, repentance, worship, and God’s sovereignty and glory. A refrain repeated often is “then they will know that I am the Lord.”

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Ezekiel received his prophetic calling at age 30, which was also when a priest usually began his ministry. But at that time, he had already been in exile four years. Imagine the despair he must have felt—far from his homeland, far from the temple, far from the place where he had anticipated serving the Lord. He must have wondered what purpose God had for him now. If you’re in a place of doubt and despair, take courage, God does indeed have a plan for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ezekiel 1:4-28
When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking. - Ezekiel 1:28
TODAY IN THE WORD
Industrial scientists have been working recently to create “sheets of light.” Plastic panels are coated with chemicals known as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), which light up when an electric current is run through them. Their light is soft and diffuse, unlike the bright light from normal incandescent bulbs. These plastic sheets are flexible and can be placed nearly anywhere. They might one day make lamps and light fixtures obsolete, and they are already being used in televisions and electronic gadget displays. One analyst predicts that by the year 2015 about $6 billion worth of OLEDs will be sold.

Brilliant light is one of the central images in Ezekiel’s awe-inspiring vision of heaven. This vivid and dramatic vision was a prelude to and divine validation of his prophetic call in chapter 2, and no doubt a turning point in his spiritual life. The symbolic descriptions here can be generally divided into three parts: the four living creatures or cherubim (vv. 4-14), the wheels (vv. 15-21), and the throne of God (vv. 22-28). Overall, the images convey God’s power, purity, eternality, sovereignty, holiness, wisdom, mystery, and majesty.

As impressive as the cherubim are, it is notable that a glittering “expanse” separates them from God’s throne in the vision. His person and glory are inexpressibly greater than anything in the created realm. Encouragingly, He appears as “a figure like that of a man” (v. 26). The language here is full of qualifiers and comparisons as Ezekiel struggled to express what he saw—a man made of glowing metal and fire, “brilliant light,” a rainbow in the clouds (cf. Rev. 4:3). He could not apprehend God directly, of course—as a priest, he would have known that would mean death—only an “appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord” (v. 28). Still, it was more than enough to put him facedown on the ground in reverence and holy fear. Though conquest and exile were testing the faith of Israel, God remained God.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today’s reading also reminds us of the incredible origins of God’s Word. This Book that we hold so lightly in our hands and sometimes take for granted did not just roll off a printing press somewhere—it came directly from the awesome place and Person described in Ezekiel’s vision! No wonder the psalmist exclaimed, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! . . . Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Ps. 119:103, 105).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ezekiel 2-3; Ezekiel 3:16-23
Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. - Ezekiel 3:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Jesus was a baby, there was a “righteous and devout” man living in Jerusalem named Simeon (Luke 2:21-35). Simeon was “waiting for the consolation of Israel,” that is, the Messiah, and he had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would have the privilege of seeing Him before he died. “Moved by the Spirit” one day, he went to the temple and was led straight to the holy child. He took him in his arms and exclaimed: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Like Simeon, Ezekiel was chosen by God to be a “watchman,” one who sees what is coming and brings news or warning to everyone else. God commissioned him to bring words of warning to hardhearted people. Not only did God call him, He also equipped him for this task by giving him the words to say, as symbolized in the eating of the scroll (2:9-3:3). He further promised to make him “unyielding and hardened” (3:, that is, strong, courageous, and persistent. Interestingly, the word for “harden” is embedded in Ezekiel’s name—“God strengthens” and “God hardens” have the same root. God was playfully reminding this “son of man” to live up to his name.

God was not promising Ezekiel a popular and fulfilling ministry. Being a watchman would be a challenging and thankless task. The Israelites were characterized in today’s reading as rebellious, stubborn, obstinate, and unwilling to listen. Prophesying to them would be like walking among briers and thorns and scorpions (2:6). The message would be dominated by “words of lament and mourning and woe” (2:10). Even so, God charged the young priest to speak His words boldly, to give warning to the wicked, and to be faithful even if no one listened (3:27; cf. Luke 8:.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Another truth symbolized by Ezekiel’s eating of the scroll was that he internalized God’s words, taking them in, digesting them, and being nourished by them. The words at this time were sad ones. But because they were God’s words, they “tasted as sweet as honey.” As Jeremiah said: “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight” (Jer. 15:16). We can internalize God’s words and be nourished by them as well through Bible study and memorization. Is God’s Word your joy and heart’s delight?