Are we, as believers, actively honoring the Lord’s Name by obeying His Word, or are we following in the steps of Israel—using religious activity to take the place of obedient holiness? God’s intention for Kingdom people is global impact. Disobedience short-circuits that plan. Discipline follows. Repentance produces revival. Kingdom living can change a generation.

Ezekiel now depicts the tragic and total disintegration of every area of leadership that should have provided moral and spiritual guidance to Judah. The failure of the leaders made judgment inevitable. Five specific segments of society are examined and charged with delinquency. These verses apply to every nation as it stands accountable to Almighty God.

Tucked neatly into a series of judgment messages is an invitation to choose life rather than death. Portions of this chapter are often misunderstood to teach an impermanent salvation. Context shows this idea is not the lesson at hand; but rather, the opportunity to avoid coming judgment is in the hands of individuals each responsible for their own standing before God.

After an extended vision about the pollution of the Temple, Ezekiel now receives a glimpse into the greatest disaster an Israelite could imagine—God’s departure from His people! From Eden forward, the Bible’s consistent message is that God and human sin are incompatible. Precisely for this reason, the gospel of Jesus Christ inspires awe and amazement!

After receiving a vision of the Lord’s majesty, Ezekiel is commissioned as a prophet to the people of Judah in exile in Babylon. The task is extraordinarily difficult; but the available resources of God are always enough to accomplish the mission. The prophet’s timeless motivations call out to Evergreen in the present generation.

We process everything based on our fallen and broken world perspective. We constantly evaluate it from a myopic viewpoint. As we seek to transition into an eternal kingdom that is foreign to our present existence, we struggle to grasp our limitations and many times fail to remember that proper focus only comes from one place.

The first wave of exiles have been transplanted from Judah to Babylon. Jerusalem and the Temple are about to be destroyed. Where is God? How could He allow pagans to occupy the land of promise? Is He absent? How can people of faith survive in a pagan culture dominated by unbelievers? This question, even today, remains uncomfortably relevant.

Part of the Psalms of Ascent, these verses were sung by ancient pilgrims on their way to worship in Jerusalem. This section centers on the life of a husband and father within his family and as a responsible participant in the public life of the nation. Father’s Day calls men to more than grilled meats and televised ballgames. God Himself calls men to holy leadership.

Any organization, institution, or business justifies its continued existence only when it carries out the purpose for which it was founded. The church is a collection of redeemed saints who are meant to help every other person in the world become more like Jesus. But we do not attempt the impossible alone!

A common question today is, “If God knows everything, what’s the point of praying?” Prayer does so much more than offer the details of our lives to God as requests. It is intimately and powerfully related to maintaining the Faith in difficult generations. Remember, the model prayer prays about Kingdom matters before it ever addresses daily needs.