Make me more aware of my sin Genesis 3:7

Genesis 3:7 (New International Version)

⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Adam and Eve were happy living in the Garden of Eden. They were oblivious to evil and focused on God and God alone. When the ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, their eyes were opened in a new way. Their eyes, weren't just opened to see sights but they now had a new realization of the surroundings, their situation, and their actions. they now saw sin as it was in their lives and felt compelled to do something about it. They hid from God because the did not want to stand before Him naked. They were now aware it was wrong and wanted to do something about it. Even thougth they sinned they still didn't want to disappoint God.

I see the same thing in my relationship with God. There was a time when I was not following God. My sin did not bother me like it should. Once God was in my life I became much more aware of my sin. I had a desire to do something about it that I did not have before. Things I used to embrace no linger pleased me. Some even disgusted me. the closer I got to God the more my nakedness was exposed and the more I realized it. God filled me with a desire to please Him and clean up the sin in my life. There are times when sin creeps into my life and it doesn't bother me like it should. I now what that conviction should feel like but it is not there. When that happens I know that I am not close to God. I know that when I am close to god my sin disgusts me. When it doesn't, it is a warning to check my relationship and draw close to Him again. I know what it is to be far from God and I know what it is to be close to him. I need to spend more time drawing close and staying there. When I do I spend less time fighting sin and more time embracing God. That is where I want to be.

Dear Lord,
You have opened my eyes to Your truth and the right way to live. You have given me a new life and a love for you. I thank You and praise You for the changes You have made in my life and pray that You will continue that good work in me. You know my sins and my weaknesses. you know the areas of my life in which I want to please You and in which I want to hide. Expose my sins and keep me close to You. Make me more aware than every the areas I fall short and stir my heart to change so that I may please You and stay in Your presence. Mold me into the person You want me to be and work those changes into my life so that they would no just be what I do, but who I am, living my life to please You. In Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Do the right thing not the easy thing Matthew 27:24-25

Matthew 27:24-25 (New International Version)

 ²⁴When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"
 ²⁵All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"

Pilate wanted to release Jesus. He know it was the right thing to do. His wife even encouraged him to do it. The crowd that had gathered wanted Jesus crucified. Pilate washed his hands and refused to have any more to do with it, claiming he was innocent in the matter. The crowd was all to willing to take responsibility for what was about to happen. The crowd could have had Jesus released but refused, instead chose to crucify an innocent man. Pilate felt he got off the hook because he "washed his hands" of the whole thing. It's not that easy. The crowd is responsible for their actions but Pilate is just as responsible for his. The passive aggressive attempt to put the decision and the blame on the crowd was nothing more than a cop out on Pilate's part. He had the authority and responsibility to make that decision. It was his chance to do the right thing, but he squandered it and tried to shift the blame because he was afraid. Courage is not the lack of fear but doing the right thing in the face of fear. Pilate failed a big test that day.

God puts me in situations constantly where I have to make hard choices. Each choice is mine to make and each decision I own alone. Sometimes I do well, other times I fail. I know there is forgiveness for my bad mistakes and poor choices, but I still have to own them. God has put me in the position to make those decisions, and and as scary as it is sometimes, I need to have the courage to make those decisions.Each decision is an opportunity to do the right thing for God. When I refuse to act and put that decision on someone else, I'm avoiding the responsibility God has give me. I refuse to act because I am afraid of the outcome. By forcing other to decide I can shift the blame later. that is the coward's way out. I need to stand up and do or say the right thing even when I stand alone. With God's help, I'll find the courage to do so.

Dear Lord,
I know that You have prepared me beforehand for the tasks and decisions you have put before me. I pray that You would give me the courage to do the right thing even when I stand alone. Help me to remember that even during those times I don't ever stand alone because You are always by me side. Give me the wisdom to make the right decisions. When I'm weak give me the strength to stand by them. When I fail, show me the path to right my wrongs. and give me the courage to follow through. Let all that I do and the decisions I make be pleasing to You. In Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

The risk is worth the reward Matthew 25:25

Matthew 25:25 (New International Version)

²⁵So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

 This servant took the money his master gave his and hid it. He obviously could have done much more. I see what was possible by looking at the other two servants in the story. He was afraid to take the risk because he was focused on failure. The other two were focused on multiplying what was given to them from the master. The servant's plan didn't work so well. He wasted the opportunity to gain more for the master's kingdom. Not only was he not rewarded and entrusted with more, even what he had was taken away.

God has given me many opportunities to serve Him over the years from chance encounters with people on the street to organized ministry opportunities. Each time the opportunity is before me, I have to make a choice, I can take the risk or pass up the chance. there is always risk involved but the reward is always worth the risk. God does not give me these opportunities to watch me fail, He me to succeed. When I prove faithful He entrusts me with more. There are times when I have been too afraid of failure and squandered opportunities. I have seen those opportunities dry up because I was too worried about what could happen if I fail instead of all that could come from success. That fear is a lack of faith. God has proven too many times in my life that He is faithful and wants to see me succeed and grow for Him. I need to put that fear away and trust Him to give me success in His name. The more I do that, the more chances God will give me to succeed because everyone who has will be given more and will have an abundance. I want to be that person for Christ.

Dear Lord,
You fill my life with opportunities to serve You. Give me eyes to see them all and give me the desire to take every chance for You. Fill me with a boldness to reach out and take the risks, knowing that You are with me every step of the way. When fear and doubt enter my mind, fill me with confidence to reach out in Your name, knowing that I am doing Your will. When I fear the risks involved, remind me that the risks in serving You are always worth the reward. Help me to see past the risks and focus on the goal You have set before me. In Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eye,
Ron

Practice what you preach Matthew 23:27-27

Matthew 23:25-27 (New International Version)

 ²⁵"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
 ²⁷"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.

 Jesus spends much of chapter 23 scolding the Pharisees for the lives they lead. He tells His followers not to do as the Pharisees do, because "they do not practice what they preach" (Matt 25:3). Jesus tells the Pharisees they are great at putting on a good appearance for others but in their hearts they are not following God. He compares them to a whitewashed bomb, clean and presentable on the outside, but filled with dead men's bones. The Pharisees were great at telling everyone else hat to do but would not put those same truths into practice in their own lives.

I love God and believer that I an living my life to please Him as best I can. I try to share His love and truths with the people around me in what I say and the what I do. While I fall short on a regular basis, I think I am on the right track. I'm sure there were many Pharisees who felt the same way I do when they looked in the mirror. They thought they were on the right track, but as Jesus pointed out, they were deceiving themselves and those around them as well. Self assessment does not work, especially for me. I can deceive myself and others into thinking all is good in my life and with God. I need people around me who will be honest and tell me when they see a problem or an area of concern in my life. I don't ever want anyone to have a reason to call me a hypocrite, which can easily become a true statement unless I cling to God each and every day. If you are reading this blog, I invite you to be one of those people who will give me an honest assessment of my walk with God from time to time.

Dear Lord,
You have given me a new life. You lead me to live a life that is consistent with Your teaching and share that life with the people around me. I pray that I will grow closer to You every day; that my words and my actions would line up with a life lived for You. When I stray bring conviction and accountability swiftly. Help me to live a life  that is transparent for all to see. Let what others see in me glorify You in every way. Let my life be an example to others as a follower of Christ and not a hypocrite, praising You with my lips but not with my actions. I thank You for the life I have and the chance to live it out for You. In Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

I'm not obedient until I do it. Matthew 21:28-31

Matthew 21:28-31 (New International Version)

The Parable of the Two Sons

 ²⁸"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'  ²⁹" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
 ³⁰"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.
 ³¹"Which of the two did what his father wanted?"
      "The first," they answered.

 Jesus speaks of a son given a command from his father. He say he won't do it but later does. The other son says he'll do it but never acts. The chief priests agreed the first son was the obedient one. Jesus showed them it's not what you say that matter, but what you do that really counts. The chief priests knew God's word and could recite it but there was no evidence it had made any impact in their lives. The people who were shunned by society heard God's ward  and it changed their lives. It was seen in their actions. Jesus told the chief priests the outcasts understood better and would be welcomed in heaven.

James 1:22 say I need to be a doer of the word and not just a hearer. I need to put God's word into action in my life to truly be a follower of Jesus Christ. If I can hear God's word and study it, it should move me to action. the cations others see is the Holy Spirit working through me. That is the evidence of a changed life and my guarantee that I am going to heaven (2 Cor. 1:22). If I belong to God it will be known by my fruit. That fruit is the cation that comes from a changed life.

Dear Lord,
I thank you for choosing me and changing my life. I pray that Your word would stir me to action every day. I pray that others would see the evidence of a changed life and praise You for it. I pray they would recognize that it is You working in me to bring about change and help me to live for You. Let Your word fill me up to overflowing. Let that overflow bless those around me and prompt them to seek You out. Let my life be a positive example of life in Christ and use me to make a difference for you. In Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Never pass up an opportunity from God Matthew 19:21-22

Matthew 19:21-22 (New International Version)

 ²¹Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
 ²²When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

 The rich young ruler was a good guy who had done good things. He thought he had it all figured out. Jesus showed him just how far off he was when He exposed the man's true problem, "sell all you have". It's not about what I've done or how hard I've worked, it's about what I am willing to do. The rich ruler was not willing to make the sacrifice Jesus called him make and he went away empty. He missed our on the opportunity of a lifetime, walking in the presence of God here on earth and for eternity.

God has called me to many challenges both big and small. Some challenges I have accepted and other I have walked away form. Every challenge God lays before me is an opportunity in disguise. I look back on those opportunities I passed up and wonder what I missed out on. Every time I say no to God I miss out on a blessing. There are others who God wants to bless through me as well. When I say no to God, it affects them as well. There are  people who have missed out on unknown blessings because I was too scared, too tired, too selfish, too lazy, or too busy to say, "Yes". It is my goal to always say, "Yes" from now on, not just for me, but for the people God may bless through me.

Dear Lord,
You are the Giver of life. You are the giver of gifts beyond my comprehension. Everyday You lay opportunities to serve You and be obedient to your call. Too many times I've said, "No". I ask Your forgiveness and pray that You would fill me with the desire and ability to say, "Yes" to Your every call. I know You have tried to use me in the lives of others and I have let You down. I pray for those people and ask that You bring others in their lives who were willing to say yes when I didn't. Don't let them miss out on your blessing because of me. I lift them up to you in Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

I want to rely on God's thinking Matthew 16:23

Matthew 16:23 (New International Version)

 ²³Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."


 Jesus shared with the disciples that He would be killed and raise again on the third day. Peter in his own wisdom pulled Jesus aside to correct Him, saying, "This shall never happen to you". Jesus saw the spiritual implications in that statement and rebuked Peter. Peter was relying on his own thinking and was not open to God. He thought he knew best and shared his thought with the best intentions, but was misguided. His best thinking fell short and was a stumbling block before Christ. 

I often rely on my own wisdom and my own thought when dealing with issues. There is a danger in that because Satan can use that to pull my focus away from God's will. He can also use me as a stumbling block in the lives of others. I need to seek God's will in my decisions and trust Him to speak through me in my conversations. The closer I am to God the easier this is. When I don't spend time with Him. I rely on my own wisdom. That gets me in trouble. If I want God's wisdom in my life, I need to stay close to Him and look to Him first in all I do.

Dear Lord, 
You are the giver of true wisdom. You know all and work in my life to do what is best for me. I know that but don't recognize it in my daily life nearly as much as I should. Keep me in Your presence, give me Your wisdom, and help me to rely on You in every decision I make. Keep Your hedge of protection around me and guard my heart am mind. I pray that the enemy would not gain a foothold in my life nor use me as a stumbling block in the live of others around me. Let all my decisions and conversations be pleasing to You. In Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

What is my "pearl of great price"? Matthew 13:45-46

Matthew 13:45-46
    "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. [46] When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.



Jesus speaks of a pearl merchant looking for fine pearls. He found one so special that he sold everything he had just to buy this one pearl. I have to believe that as a pearl merchant he had seen many fine pearls in his day, but there was something so special about that one that he was willing to give up all he had just to possess it.

There are many things in my life that I enjoy. There are many things that are very valuable to me. Of all the things, there is one that is most important of all. It is my "pearl of great price". My "pearl" is my relationship with Jesus Christ. It trumps everything else and is worth whatever the cost may be. God has proven time and again just how valuable this is in my life. At this point in my life I am willing to give whatever it takes to have this relationship and stay in His will. I could not always say that. I see others around me who have things of great importance in their lives but Christ is not anywhere near the top. It saddens me to think of all the jot and blessings they miss out on by ignoring what God has to offer, but i continue to pray that one day they will share the same rleationship I have in Christ and discover the true pearl of great price.

Dear Lord,
You truly are my pearl of great price. My relationship with you is the most important thing in my life. I praise You and that You for the relationship I have in You. I pray the distractions and junk in my life will never get in the way of our relationship.I ask that You do whatever it takes in my life to keep You first in all I do. Lord, I lift up those who don't know You as I do and pray that You will become real in their lives. I pray that they would discover and accept You as their "pearl of great price" and live their live to please You. In Jesus' name amen.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Watch the careless words Matthew 12:34-37

Matthew 12:34-37
    You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. [35] The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. [36] But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. [37] For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Jesus says the things we say are not just thoughts from our mind but flow from our heart. The things we say show the condition of our heart. If I store up the good things then good things come out in my speech. If I store evil in my heart, bad things come out. I am responsible for every word that comes out of my mouth and will be held accountable not just here on earth but before God as well.


The thing I say reflect where my heart is with God. The bad attitude, the coarse talk, the gossip, the angry words all reflect my current relationship with Christ more than what I say about Him. I think of the things I thing and say throughout the week and am ashamed. People who don't know God as well as I do praise me for my words and my lifestyle, but I know where I am and where I should be. Every word out of my mouth should be pleasing to God but I know it is not. The closer I am to God the more convicted I get over the words that come out of me and I am not convicted nearly enough. People praise me because I don't use profanity, but if the works I use have the same intent, there is no difference. I need to guard my speech as much as I do other areas of my life. That begins by changing my heart. That happens as I grow closer to God.

Dear Lord,
I know what You want from me and yet I fall short every day. You hear every word I say and know my every thought. You see my heart and know it's true condition. Change my heart. Fill me with a desire to live for You and please You in everything I do. Let this change be reflected in what I say and how I think. Any praise I get is not what others see in me, buy what they see in You through me. I pray the people in my life will see more of You and less of me. In Jesus' name, amen.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Life is tough, but it's tougher without Christ

Matthew 11:28-30 (New International Version)

 ²⁸"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

The world is full of hurts and burdens and disappointments. Jesus offers an alternative to that. If we are tired of fighting the things of the world and are worn out, He promises us rest in Him. He assures us the following Him is less burdensome that following the world.


Jesus Christ proved that to me in my life and continues to do so everyday. I was trying to go through life handling everything on my own and was failing miserably. I accepted Christ into my life and now live to please Him instead of me. I have learned that living my life to please God is much easier and less burdensome than living life on my own. His plan is perfect. His rules are simple and clear cut. When I follow God's ways there is no doubt of worry. H has never let me down. My decisions are easy when I make them based on God's word and His will for my life.

The only problem I have is that after all these years I still struggle to make the right decisions for the right reasons. I still take my eyes off God and try to do things on my own. When I see the outcome it is a reminder of who difficult life is without Christ and how blessed I am to be included as a child of God and able to rely on Him. My life in Christ is not easy by any means, but it always beats life without Him and He shows me that in different ways every day.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for loving me and giving me a relationship with You. Thank You for guiding my life and giving me rest in You. I know You never promised life would be easy but even in the turmoil I can always find peace in You. You are my refuge and a place of safety when I'm at risk. You give me peace when I am troubled. You give me rest when I am weary. I see You at work in my life every day in tangible ways and I thank You and praise You for that. I pray that You use me in the lives of others to share this good news and precious gift. I lift this up to You in Jesus' name, amen.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Seek more than you ask Matthew 7:7-8

Matthew 7:7-8

 ⁷"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

In this passage Jesus encourages us to pray and seek out God with our requests. He wants us to ask Him to meet our needs. He promises to give us what we need for He knows what is in our best interest.

I am very good at asking. When things go wrong, I'm right there asking God to fix my mistakes and take care of the mess I've made. If I have a need I am right there looking for God to meet it. I need to spend more time seeking God than asking. The more I seek the less I need. When I spend time in His word and search our God in my daily life, the more I realize how active He is in my life, meeting my needs before I even ask. I don't want to seek out what God can do for me, but what He wants for me. I want my desires to be in line with God's will for my life. The better I am at that the less I need to ask and the more I can appreciate His blessings.

I don't want to just seek Him from afar, I want to come into His presence. He promises that if I knock on the door He will invite me in. He is always available for me if I just knock and make myself known. I know I need to ask but I need to spend more time seeking and knocking. When I do, the needs often take care of themselves.

Dear Lord,
I am forever thankful that you are an accessible God. I am thankful that You want to spend time with me and are always available. i am quick to come to You with my problems and regrets and concerns. I am good at asking but don't make time to just spend with You. Help me to be a person who seeks you out throughout the day to share my experiences and not just my requests. Help me to seek your will for my life and not just answers to my requests. Mold me into the person You want me to be. In Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Let your light shine in a positive way Matthew 5:14-16

Matthew 5:14-16
    "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.


Jesus says we are a light to the world. A light is meant to shine. It should not be hidden or subdued  but be put on a stand for everyone to see. Jesus calls us to let our light shine and let others see our good deeds. When they do, our deeds should prompt them to God the credit, recognizing they came from Him.

God has given me a new life and opportunities to share that new life with the people around me. He say I am a light to the world. My light will shine no matter what. The question is, what light will the people around me see? Every time I open my mouth, every time I act on a thought or desire, I am on display for all to see. Each time I am an example of how different my life is with Jesus Christ. I can be a positive example or a negative example, but whatever I do, and whatever I say is a reflection on Jesus Christ. I am an ambassador for Him here on earth and must remember that the example I set directly reflects on Christ and the difference He can make.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the life You have given me and the changes you have made in my life. I am and example of the miracle of a changed life. I pray that my testimony and the life I live will always be pleasing to You. I pray that my testimony will be such that it can be used by You to lead others to the a life changing relationship with You. I know I will fall short and pray for Your forgiveness when that happens. Help me to be open and available to be used by Yo. Let me be that light on a hill shining for You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Look at their heart Matthew 3:4-6

Matthew 3:4-6
    John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. [5] People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. [6] Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

    John was a devoted man of God, but he didn't have a church, he didn't wear fine clothes, he wasn't the center of attention, he wasn't the guy everyone wanted to be. John was living in the wilderness wearing homemade clothes, and eating bugs for dinner. Even so, people sought him out and went to  him to draw closer to God and learn more about Him through John.

John didn't look like a preacher. He didn't act like a preacher. There was nothing about his appearance or his surrounding that would attract people to him. People found value in the message he had and it prompted them to seek him out. There was something about John that make people look past his appearance and circumstances and want to know him better.

There are many people in my life who have the looks and the money. They live in the right areas and have the right jobs. We share the same interests so it is easy for me to connect with them . God has also put people in my life with whom I don't  take the time to get to know. I have no idea what they have to offer because I've never taken the time to find out. There are times I am too busy looking at the outside of a person that I miss what is truly important. I don't ever see their heart. I'll never know what I am missing out on until I open my heart more than my eyes and see these people the way Jesus sees them . I need to spend more time looking at what these people mean to Jesus than what they mean to me.

Dear Lord,
Help me to see the people You put in my path the same way You do. Stir my heart to reach out to them and take the time to know who they really are. Put people in my path who can help me grow closer to You and not just feel better about me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Ezekiel 43:8-9

⁸ When they placed their threshold next to my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them, they defiled my holy name by their detestable practices. So I destroyed them in my anger. ⁹ Now let them put away from me their prostitution and the lifeless idols of their kings, and I will live among them forever.

The Israelites had the pleasure of living with God. They drew close to Him and enjoyed His company, then defiled His temple and their relationship with Him in the process. God longed to restore that relationship but could not accept them the way they were. He offered them a relationship with Him but on the contition they change their ways and live a life to please Him.

God loves me and wants a relationship with me. He enjoys our time together, but will not tolerate being in the presence of sin. He accepted me with all me faults but expects me to grow more like Him as I grow closer to Him .It is hard to have a close relationship with God if we have nothing in common. The more my life is in line with His will for me, the closer I am to Him. To be more like God, I have to act more like Him. My relationships with the people around me need to glorify and Honor God. The closer the relationship the more like-minded we need to be. It is not possible for me to stay close to God and embrace the world at the same time because I "cannot serve two masters". I have chosen to please God first. My goal is to let my relationships and my life honor the God I serve so that He is comfortable having me around. To do that I have to learn to hate sin as much as He does. It's not easy, but I am willing.

Dear Lord,
I thank You and praise You for the relationship I have in You. I pray that i live a life pleasing to You. Stir my heart that I would have an unquenchable desire to draw close to you. I want that Jesus Christ would be my best friend and involved in every area of my life. i know that I cannot always say that now and ask for You forgiveness and pray that you would mold me into the person with whom You enjoy fellowship.Guide me to honor You in my relationships with the people around me and the way I live my life. Change my heart so that I will hate all of my sin as much as You do. I lift this up to you in Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

God never gives up on me

Ezekiel 39:27-29

²⁷ When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will show myself holy through them in the sight of many nations. ²⁸ Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. ²⁹ I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD."

god spends much of the book of Ezekiel describing all of the was His people have let Him down including all the detestable things, all the idols they have worshiped, and all the wrongs they have committed against other people.  God warns them over and over of the punishment they will endure for their sin. They deserve all that is promised and more. Here toward the end of the book, God promises to restore His people and give them success against. their enemies. He never gives up on his people and loves them enough to see them through the hard times and back under His loving protection.

This reminds me that the God I serve is a God of love. While He does discipline me, He does so with a goal of making me more like Him. God loves me more than I can understand. he wants the best for me and cares about my every problem, every worry, and every trial i go though. I need to hear that and need to remember that when times are tough. It's during those times that I feel alone but it's during those times that God is closer than ever because he loves me.

Dear Lord,
Help me to see you at work during the tough times. Help me to see you as a God of love and recognize all you do in my life. Give me eyes to see what you are doing. Give me the words to say and the desire to open my mouth to tell other of your love and the awesome way you provide for me in your perfect love.I thank you for loving me and guiding me through life in Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Grace is good, but there are consequences for my actions

Ezekiel 33:15

¹⁵ if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die.

In this passage God calls His people to right their wrongs, to return what did not belong to them, and to obey Him. He says these changes are the way to salvation.

God has made it clear that my salvation is not based on works, but is a gift from Him. Being a good person is not what gets me into heaven. It is by God's grace that I have a relationship with Him and have eternal life (Ephesians 2:8-9). But, my sin has consequences. My sin also affects others. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I need to confront the effects of my sin and do what I can to make things right. It's not about working to keep my salvation but about living my life to please God and be a good living example of the difference He has made in my life.

I have hurt and disappointed many people in my life and I know that I'm not done. I need to consider those past hurts and make them right. I owe a lot of apologies but don't say them nearly enough. It;s good to know that God will not remember my sins, but I can still see the effects of them in my life and in the people around me. Like a tornado that has gone though an area. it was chaotic at the time and is quiet now, but when you look around, the damage is still there. I have been that tornado in the lives of others and while things may have quieted down, the damage is  still done. That damage is a result of my sin and is my fault. It is my responsibility to go back and right the wrongs in my life not because I earn points with God, but because it is the right thing to do.

Dear Lord,
Forgive me for the sins I have committed against You and against others. Bring to my mind the hurts I have caused and move me to reconcile the relationships I have damaged and the right the wrongs. You have changed me from the person I was to the person I am today. I know I am a work in progress and I have a long way to go, but trust You to guide me on the right path. Bless those I have wronged and use me to make this right. I lift this up to You in Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

You will know that I am the LORD

Ezekiel 29:9

⁹ Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 29:21

 ²¹ "On that day I will make a horn grow for the house of Israel, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 30:19

 ¹⁹ So I will inflict punishment on Egypt,
       and they will know that I am the LORD.

Egypt and the other nations were prospering and taking all the credit, boasting in their success. They ignored the fact the God was in control of their destiny and decided their future. they did not remember God and give Him credit for what He had done. He had to bring them down a notch to remind them "I am the LORD".


In my life I assume too much of the success is mine and too much of the struggle is God's. In my life He needs to periodically bring me down a notch to remind me that "He is the LORD". All I have and all I am is a gift from God. I need to focus on that and remember daily all the blessings He pours our on me. I need to remember when He does correct me it is in my best interest and gentle reminder the God is God and I am not. I need to focus on all God does and appreciate it so that he does not have to continually remind me that "He is the LORD". I know that and should keep that first in my thoughts but tend to forget every few minutes. When I do I can trust God to remind me.

Dear Lord,
You are God and I am not.  All I have is a gift from You. Every success in my life is a result of Your blessing. Forgive me Lord that I forget that so often and fail to return to You to say thanks. You deserve my thanks, my admiration, my love. You deserve all the credit for my success. When I become boastful about my success please use my circumstances and the people You bring into my life to keep me humble and remind my that all the glory is Yours and Yours alone. I thank you in Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Sometimes it's just time to pay up

Ezekiel 23:35

³⁵ "Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Since you have forgotten me and thrust me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution." 

This chapter discussed how the Israelites were living their lives in defiance of God, sacrificing their children to idols, worshiping idols, reaching out to their enemies, and marrying and living among them. Many of the acts described in this chapter can be seen in our society today. God was keep a hedge of protection around them and continually tried to get their attention. At this point he is removing his hand of protection to is leaving them to the consequences of their sin. 

God is faithful and remembers His promises to His people, but when they turn their backs He chastens them in love (Hebrews 12:5-6). God did not abandon his people or cause bad things to happen, He just let events take their natural course. When I live in defiance of God and His instruction and will for my life, I can expect to reap the consequences of my sin. I tend to shake my fist at God and blame Him for my circumstances, but it is usually nothing more than the results of my sinful way of life. God doesn't cause the bad to happen in my life but He allows it, hoping that I will turn back to Him. Hebrews 12:5-6 tells me that He does this in love. When these things happen in my life, both good and bad, it is a reminder that he loves me enough to keep trying.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for caring enough to stay involved in every area of my life. Thank you for never giving up on me. Your love and patience have seen me though many rough times and brought me back into your presence. I long to live a life that is pleasing to You but You are well aware I have a long way to go. I pray that You continue to work in my life and help me to learn from my mistakes, each time drawing closer to you. I thank you Lord and lift this up to you in Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Is God my personal ATM?

Ezekiel 20:30-31
    "Therefore say to the house of Israel: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did and lust after their vile images? [31] When you offer your gifts--the sacrifice of your sons in the fire--you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will not let you inquire of me.

 The elders came to Ezekiel to "inquire of the the Lord. He spends the entire chapter reminding them of all the ways they have rejected Him and profaned His name. All the time they turned away to worship wood and stone idols and turned their backs on the Living God. This was the same God who had rescued them and provided for them  time and time again. Now, they are living their lives in rebellion to Him. Then, as if nothing had happened, they come to Him to ask for more. God says that won't happen.


God is not my personal ATM. He loves me, but will not be ignored and abused until I need something. He is a jealous God in that He wants to be first in my life. When I live for Him I have fellowship with Him. When I ignore Him and push Him aside, He stays away. How selfish of me to continually push Him out of areas of my life only to beg for His help when it is convenient for me. I expect God to be committed to me when I remain uncommitted to Him in so many ways. I need to quit worrying about how to get what I need from God and concentrate on how to be more like Him.

Dear Lord,
I love You and want You in my life, but I seem to forget that daily. Help me to be more like You in my thoughts and my actions. Let the things I do be pleasing to You. When I come to "inquire of the The Lord" let me come with a humble heart and a willing spirit. Let me be focused on You not only when I need something, but all throughout my day. Prompt me and stir my heart to reach out to you with my hands held high in praise and not just held out looking for a favor. I lift this up to you in Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

It's not fair, or is it?

Ezekiel 18:25-27
    "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? [26] If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die. [27] But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.

 In this passage, the Israelites are complaining that God is not fair. They feel that they don't deserve the way they are being treated.

Is God just?  Is it fair when He allows the hurts and disappointments to come my way? When I judge God and His actions, I usually judge Him by my standards. But, is it really fair to judge perfection from an imperfect place? I may not like what He does sometimes but that does not mean He is not fair. I sin every day and I am responsible for my sin. I need to be willing to accept responsibility for my sin. God loves me unconditionally and wants the best for me, but that doesn't mean I get a free pass for my sin. God is just and I know what I deserve. I am thankful everyday that I don't get what I deserve.




Dear Lord,
I know you are a loving God who cares for Your people. I also know you are just and fair. I know that when You look down from Your place of perfection and see this imperfect world and my sin in it, You are grieved. Even knowing that, I still judge You and Your decisions. Please forgive me for my selfish thinking and my sinful attitude toward You. Use the situations in my life and Your fair and perfect judgment to make me more like you, in Jesus' name. Amen.


Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Can I be useful?

Ezekiel 15:1-5
    The word of the Lord came to me: [2] "Son of man, how is the wood of a vine better than that of a branch on any of the trees in the forest? [3] Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on? [4] And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything? [5] If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?
  
Here God tells Ezekiel that the vine is useless. It is good for nothing except fuel for a fire. John 15 says that we are branches on a vine.
John 15:5-8
    "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. [7] If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. [8] This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

 On my own I am like the vine in Ezekiel. I'm not good for much. But John 15 reminds me that when I am attached to Christ I have value that I don't have in any other way. In Christ, I bear fruit for His kingdom. It is a reminder to me that any fruit you see in me is not me, only Christ working through me. There are times when I get puffed up and try to take credit for the fruit. This passage reminds me that I need Christ not only for me, but to be useful in His kingdom as well. So, if you see any fruit in me, thank God and remind me to do the same.   

Dear Lord,
I am humbled when I remember all you have done for me, but even more so when I see how you have used me. I am honored to play even a small part in sharing Your love with others. Lord, I pray that You continue to use me and do whatever it takes to keep me humble and to truly appreciate all you do in me and through me. I thank you Lord in Jesus' name.



Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron
   

Don't ignore the hope

Ezekiel 11:17
    "Therefore say: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.'

The Israelites had pushed God out of the temple and out of their lives. They were worshiping idols and doing all sorts of detestable things before the Lord. God spends the book of Ezekiel explaining what their sin had done to their relationship with Him and what the results would be. They were about to suffer greatly for their sin. God is angry and letting them know it. As you read through the book of Ezekiel I am thankful I am not them. I could not imagine going through what they are about to endure. But right in the middle of telling Ezekiel all the punishment that will be poured out on an unrepentant nation, He shares the verse above. In the middle of the doom, there is hope.

God is just and there are consequences for our sin, but God is also the God of hope. When I go through difficult times, all I see is the doom. I am so busy trying to work it out and feeling sorry for my self that i don't see the hope. When I read my bible, I find hope on every page, but when tough times come I tend to gloss over all those passages. I need to accept that sometimes the going gets tough and most of the time it is my own fault, but as a follower of Christ I need to put my faith in Him in every circumstance and trust Him to see me through. As I look into each situation, I can't ignore the hope.



Dear Lord, You are a mighty God. You are real in my life and I know you are with me in every situation. I thank you for your provision and your unconditional love, but I also thank you for continually giving me hope. Help me to see You in every situation and trust You to see me through. As You do, keep my eyes focused on You that I will see and appreciate how You provide for me. Let me rejoice constantly in the hope I have in You.

Don't act surprised, you know better.

Ezekiel 6:3-5
    and say: 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. [4] Your altars will be demolished and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will slay your people in front of your idols. [5] I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars.



All through Ezekiel God warns His people of what He is about to do. He explains all they have done in defiance of Him and what the consequences will be. They did nothing to change their ways and ignored all his warnings. God used His word to show them the life they should live. He sent His prophets to warn the people and show them where they were falling short. Nothing made a difference. As we see later, the people complain and blame God for their circumstances as if they have no idea why all this happened.

I see the same thing today. God has given us His word as an instruction manual for our lives. He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us. We have all the tools and information to live lives to please God and stay within His will. Yet, we constantly ignore His commands and wisdom, His desire for our lives and His guidance. When things take their natural course we act surprised and blame God. We continually push God out of our lives then accuse Him of abandoning us when He lets us handle our affairs on our own. I see this in myself all too often. I choose to do things my way then act surprised when I look around and don't see God anywhere. I shouldn't be surprised because God is doing exactly what I asked Him to do. I need a complete attitude change. I need to seek God first and live my life to please Him in all I do. As hard as I try, I continually go back to my selfish, self reliant ways. I am just thankful I serve a patient God.

Dear Lord, I thank You for loving me and having the patience with me I don't have with others. I long to please You but fail every day. I pray that You will forgive me as I stumble daily and see my heart more than you see my actions. Use Your word and Your people in my life to make me the person you want me to be. I want Your will to be the desire of my heart. Give me that desire. I lay my life before You in Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Will you seize the opportunity?

Ezekiel 3:18-21
    When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. [19] But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
    [20] "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. [21] But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself."

God set an opportunity before Ezekiel to share God's word and will for the people. He made it very clear what Ezekiel was to say and do. He then gave Ezekiel this admonition, if you do what I say and the person chooses to sin, it is on them. If you have an opportunity to share Me with those around you and you don't I will hold you accountable.    

God has given me His word to guide my life and help me to be more like Him. It was through His word and the people He put in my life that led me into a relationship with Him. He has faithfully continued to use His word and His people to help me grow stronger and deeper as a christian. The more I grow in Christ, the more I am expected to share His love with others. Christ gave us our marching orders just before He left this earth (Matthew 28:19-20). All too often the Holy Spirit prompts me to speak up, to reach out, to approach someone He has put in my path, and all too often I say, "no". I am so thankful that the people God has put in my life were willing to say, "yes" more often than me. Without that, where would I be? Every time I don't speak up when I should, where does that leave the person in front of me? I do know that every time I back away when I should step up, I am accountable for that, as I should be. If I am willing to speak out for my sports teams, my favorite movies, and the things that seem so important, I should be more than willing to speak up for the Creator of the Universe who has given me eternal life.

Dear God, I thank You for loving me enough and being persistent enough to bring me into Your family. I thank You for every person You put in my path that continued me on that journey. I ask You to forgive me for all the times You have given me opportunities to speak up for You only to have me let You down. Give me the desire to speak up for You with a boldness that would never come from me alone. Give me the words to say and the wisdom to do the right thing at the right time. Use the people and circumstances around me to keep me accountable.  Help me to be Your ambassador here on earth. I lift this up to You in Jesus' name. Amen.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron