Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 1
Thursday



READ:
Ezekiel 33:30-33
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You are to them as a
very lovely song...
they hear your words,
but they do not do
them. __Ezekiel 33:32
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Each year, one of my goals is to read the entire bible. While listing it among my New Year's resolutions, I noticed a bookmark on my desk. On one side was a brief appeal for people to take in foster children. On the other side were these words referring to that appeal: "Don't read it. Live it. Real children. Real stories. Real life." The people who produced the bookmark knew how easily we absorb information without acting on it. They wanted people to respond.

Regular intake of God's Word is a worthy practice, but it's not an end in itself. The prophet Ezekiel spoke to an audience who loved to listen but refused to act. The Lord said to Ezekiel: "Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them" (33:32).

Jesus said: "Whoever hears these saying of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock" (Matt. 7:24).

How will each of us read the Bible this year? Will we read it quickly to achieve the goal of getting through it? Or will we read it with the aim of doing what it says?

Don't just read it. Live it! __David McCasland
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````````````````````The Bible gives us all we need````````````````
``````````````````To live our lives for God each day;``````````````
```````````````````But it won't help if we don't read```````````````
````````````````Then follow what its pages say. __Sper````````````
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The value of the Bible consists not only in knowing it
but obeying it.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Ezekiel 33:30-33***********

30 As for you, son of man,
the children of your people
are talking about you beside
the walls and in the doors
of the houses; and they
speak to one another,
everyone saying to his
brother, "Please come and
hear what the word is that
comes from the LORD."

31 So they come to you as
people do, they sit before
you as My people, and they
hear your words, but they
do not do them: for with
their mouth they show
much love, but their hearts
pursue their own gain.

32 Indeed you are to them as
a very lovely song of one
who has a pleasant voice
and can play well on an
instrument; for they hear
your words, but they do not
do them. 33 And when this
comes to pass--surely they will
know that a prophet has
been among them.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Ezekiel was one of the so-called "major" prophets of the Old
Testament era. His prophetic work was indeed major in its scope,
as well as being remarkably vivid in its imagery. Ezekiel (whose
name means "God strengthens" or "God prevails") was one of
the exiles carried away along with King Jehoiachin following
Nebuchadnezzar's siege of jerusalem. It was in the fifth year of that
captivity that Ezekiel received his calling to the prophetic ministry
for which he is so well known (Ezek. 1:1-3). He was a contemporary
of both Daniel and Jeremiah, and served among the exiled. The
theme of his book? The glory of the Lord, with the word glory
appearing over 20 times. _Bill Crowder

[Timothy]

This was one of the focus points of Christianity Oasis last summer.
This is when so many new forums and programs were initiated.

For those who may be new or on the shy side, I recommend
susidiva's program called, "Paying It Forward". Ideas discussed
in her program are easy ways to act upon that which you learn.

For those who are experienced, this is a great program to share
what you know, what you have done, and what has worked.