Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Ezekiel 22-23; John 13:1-20
In the later verses of Ezekiel 22 we read about how some of the different leaders in Israel at that time showed a poor example and played a big part in leading the nation astray. We see first how the princes (easy to read version) lead with a poor example:
Verse 25:
There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her.
There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her.
Then also the religious leaders:
Verse 26:
Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
We are all leaders in some part of our lives. We're either a parent, or teacher, or have a position of authority at work etc. We may have someone looking up to us and we don't even realize it. Do we make sure to lead in the way God wants? If we don't lead in the way God wants, how are those that look up to us supposed to know what the right way is?
In chapter 23 we read a graphic account of two sisters lewdness, and how it parallels what Israel had done. These sexual sins are almost praised in society today, and even though these verses give a graphic account - they seem almost tame to us. We can see a lot of this on TV even. It shows how jaded our society has become. As Christians we need to teach modesty, self control and sexual purity to our youth and not give them the green light to follow what everyone else in secular society is doing.
In our New Testament reading we read about how Jesus teaches his disciples to wash each others feet. As He's doing this He must be having mixed emotions. On one hand He's about to endure a slow painful death. But in the other hand He's about to defeat sin and death, and therefore gain the largest victory ever! On top of that He's also about to go back to heaven, it doesn't get better than that!!
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Ezekiel 24-26; John 13:21-38
3 comments:
From the Message:
26-29 “‘Your priests violated my law and desecrated my holy things. They can’t tell the difference between sacred and secular. They tell people there’s no difference between right and wrong. They’re contemptuous of my holy Sabbaths, profaning me by trying to pull me down to their level. Your politicians are like wolves prowling and killing and rapaciously taking whatever they want.
To think these verses were written so long ago and yet hold so much truth today....I think there is so much discrepancy between what the Bible says and what some churches proclaim as truth. I think a watered down version of the truth is so harmful. To bend to society's pressure is so much easier but to stand in the truth is more important. As the upcoming election enters its final days we see the politicians doing all that they can to win at any cost. Their line between right and wrong seems blurred. May we seek the truth and pray for wisdom to elect our political leaders.
The verse that always sticks out to me when reading this NT passage is verse 14:
"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."
When I read this verse I am somewhat grossed out with the thought of doing this to someone else. Feet can be one of our dirtiest and smelliest parts of our body. I know Jesus didn't mean for us to literally wash each others feet, but He makes a great illustration for us. As Christians, we should be willing to do the most menial tasks for one another. And once again Jesus leads by example.
It's so true that we are leaders - sometimes without even knowing it. You never know who is watching you and how you're influencing them. A good reminder to watch how we're living our lives. We need to stand for truth and not be wishy-washy.
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