by Tom
‘… I am going to do these things, but for the sake of My holy name,’ was spoken as a rebuke to a stubbornly disobedient people whom the Lord was about to pour His blessings out upon. Ezekiel the prophet was sent to let Israel know that while still ‘profaning’ His name, that God intended to bless them greatly. Israel had been evicted for acting shamefully in the Holy Land, and God scattered them among the nations. Yet they continued profaning His name, wherever they went. Now in His sovereignty, God chose to return them to their land: to exchange their stony hearts for soft hearts, to prosper them abundantly and cause them to bear fruit, to cleanse them from all sin, to put His Spirit upon them, and to make His name great among them. ‘Then they (the nations) will know that I am the Lord.’ It isn’t about us. It isn’t about life being fair. It is about His Name and His glory. May God never have to tell us due to our arrogance, ‘I want you to know that I am not doing these things for your sake.’ Let me never assume that I’m blessed due to exceptional living, or that others suffer defeat because of their failures. ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ – Romans 3:23. The child who loves God will rejoice whenever His name is held in honor. (Read Ezekiel 36:16 – 37:14)
Note: All scripture is taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.
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