Day 313 Bible Readings – Ezekiel 18: 21-22 (ESV)

Ezekiel 17-18, Hebrews 9: 16-28, Proverbs 14: 5-14

Ezekiel 18: 21-22 (ESV)

““But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live.”

Verses 21 and 22 from Ezekiel 18 reminds us that if you repent for your sins and decide to follow all of God’s laws, God will forgive you and you will not die. God will forget all the wrong you did, and only remember what you did after you repented for your sins. Even though these verses were written in the Old Testament by the prophet Ezekiel, they are telling us how the new covenant of Jesus Christ will work. These verses also tell us we determine our own fates by our actions. Even if have committed wrong, we can always repent and ask God for forgiveness. We can also decide to change our life and behavior to follow all of God’s rules and do what God considers just and right. God loves us so much that he will forgive us for our past bad behavior. God will give us full restoration when we repent and ask him for forgiveness, and show him by our actions that we have changed.

Day 312 Bible Readings – Hebrews 9: 13-15 (ESV)

Ezekiel 16, Hebrews 9: 1-15, Proverbs 13: 20-25, Proverbs 14: 1-4

Hebrews 9: 13-15 (ESV)

“For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”

Verses 13 through 15 from Hebrews 9 gives us a comparison of the blood and sacrifice of animals that were part of the Old Covenant to the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ with his death on the cross. The blood of animals were used in the temple as part of the Old Covenant for the purification of the flesh. The blood of Christ purifies our whole life so we can serve God. Jesus Christ offers us a new covenant so people who have faith in him will receive the benefits of the Old Covenant. Belief in Christ also and redeems us from any sins committed under the original first Covenant.

 I like how the writer of Hebrews compared the death of Christ to sacrificial rites of animal that were part of the Old Covenant. The death of Christ freed us from having to sacrifice animals to redeem ourselves. Many say the death of Jesus Christ is an upfront sacrifice that cleanses and redeems all people from sin for now and for all time. The people who followed the Old Covenant had to constantly offer sacrifice to atone for their sins. The death of Christ freed us from having to offer sacrifices, and gave us instead a loving father who wants us repent for our sins and who will always take us back with loving arms.

Day 311 Bible Readings – Proverbs 13: 11-12 (ESV)

Ezekiel 13-15, Hebrews 8, Proverbs 13: 10-19

Proverbs 13: 11-12 (ESV)

“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”

I like verses 11 and 12 from Proverbs 13. Solomon tells us that if you gain wealth too easily or by dishonest it will dwindle. Some would call this kind of wealth “easy money.” The bible commentarians have said that this kind of wealth will not last because it was not gained by providence or the blessing of God. Instead, Solomon tells us that wealth gained over time will increase. Wealth that is gained by hard work and good habits. This type of wealth has God’s blessings and providence. There are many tv shows that talk about people who have gained money by winning the lottery, and then how they lost or ended up being poor again in few years. I also think that if you have to work hard for your money, you appreciate it more and spend it more wisely.

Solomon then talks about how when you hope for something, pray for something, and it doesn’t come it makes your heart sick. People can only take frustration for so long before they give up in despair and depression. But when your hope, your prayers are fulfilled it sustain you for a long time because you have a permanent reminder of the goodness of God in your life. I think the only way to keep your heart from getting sick when your prayers are not fulfilled for a long time, is to keep your focus on God. You need to read the Bible and dwell in God’s words. You need to remember all the times God did answer your prayers, and remind yourself that God is always faithful and keeps his promised to those who are faithful to him.

Day 310 Bible Readings – Hebrews 7: 23-25 (ESV)

Ezekiel 10-12, Hebrews 7: 11-28, Proverbs 13: 1-9

Hebrews 7: 23-25 (ESV)

“The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Verses 23 through 25 from Hebrews 7 shows another reason why Jesus Christ is superior to any priest on earth. Since Christ was resurrected he holds the office priesthood forever. Christ is able to save all those who faith in him. Pastor Guzik has commented on these verses that the salvation that Christ “gives is also unchanging, permanent, and secure.” Others have also interpreted the word “utmost” to mean that Christ can save us in the most comprehensive sense. Christ also lives to pray for us, and he never gives up on us. Even if we have given up on ourselves, Christ will never give up on us. I know that I have hit rock bottom at times in my life and was ready to give up on everything, but then Christ came to me and told me to not give up. Christ is the only person who was ever able to bring me back from the brink of the deep hole of hopelessness and depression. I’m still not sure why Christ saved me because I was never an obedient follower, but as long as he had faith in me, I felt like I could never give up on life.