INTERESTING FACTS : Benjamin Rush, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; SURGEON GENERAL OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY; RATIFIER OF THE U. S. CONSTITUTION; "FATHER OF AMERICAN MEDICINE"; TREASURER OF THE U. S. MINT; "FATHER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION"

"I do not believe that the Constitution was the offspring of inspiration, but I am as satisfied that it is as much the work of a Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament. [T]he only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government is the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible. The great enemy of the salvation of man, in my opinion, never invented a more effective means of limiting Christianity from the world than by persuading mankind that it was improper to read the Bible at schools. The Bible, when not read in schools, is seldom read in any subsequent period of life- [T]he Bible should be read in our schools in preference to all other books because it contains the greatest portion of that kind of knowledge which is calculated to produce private and public happiness."

Daily Reading : EZEKIEL 1 - 4

TEXT : Eze 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. Eze 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Eze 3:19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Eze 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Eze 3:21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

THEME : Evangelism

Ezekiel is thirty years old when called to the ministry, and begins in the fifth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin, king of Judah. Ezekiel's ministry starts during the first carrying away to Babylon, as Jeremiah is still preaching. There were three separate occasions when the Chaldeans removed the Jews. The first is when the LORD calls Ezekiel and the last when you read the Book of Lamentations.

You cannot help notice the similarities of Ezekiel's vision of God and the Book of Revelation. The strange appearance of the LORD matches the description given by John in his vision while a prisoner on the island of Patmos - a Roman penal colony. Interestingly, although perhaps an "undesigned coincidence," both visions occur while the men are in exile.

The LORD tells Ezekiel, as He did Jeremiah - not to be afraid. This may seem strange that a preacher [prophet] would be afraid to speak God's Word. Yet, you would hold that concept only if you picture the life of any true minister of God as one of ease and comfort. The fact is - the life and ministry of a true man of God is one of deprivation, rejection, travail, and loneliness. The exception of course, is unless those to whom he preaches are receptive and obedient to the Word of God. Otherwise, ministers are like soldiers who must live a life separate from civilians and engage in the rigors of war. The only ease and comfort is for the false prophet or teacher whose message pleases sinful people.

The LORD, speaking of His own children tells Ezekiel -

Eze 2:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. Eze 2:4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. Eze 2:5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

You will notice two truths in these passages.

First, the Jews who are in sole possession of the Word of God read it but do not obey it. They give the Bible a certain reverence in their services, readings, and prayers but do not apply the principles to daily life. God calls this hypocrisy.

Second, the preaching of Ezekiel that contradicts, reproves, and rebukes their ungodliness is the evidence of his call to the ministry. In other words, the people would know Ezekiel's anointing by his appropriate words of the current judgment on the Jews and its corresponding call to repentance. He would not be known as a prophet of God not by flattery and a fawning appeal to the whims of the Jews.

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "When You Know the Truth, There is an Obligation to Share it."

When you know the truth, there is an obligation to share it. Thankfully, as it was with the Old Testament prophets and their words, the New Testament has good news put against the bad. However, the truth is - the Word of God has both. That is, a man or woman knows the good news of Jesus Christ by acknowledging the bad news.

The Bible is clear that all people have offended God and will not see Him in the next world. Worse, Christ teaches and warns Man of a place called Hell - an eternal realm of unspeakable torment and horrors, created for the Devil and his angels as well as all men and women that follow him in like rebellion against God. There is no escape from Hell. There is no way out once you are in. Therefore, the blessing is to be "saved" from this wrath of God and to have Christ close the gate of Hell so you will never go in, while he opens the gate of Heaven so you may enter.

When a preacher tells only one side of the message of God's Word, there is no balance, and consequently no truth. If you accent Hell without the cross, there is no hope. If you preach the cross without telling men and women of Hell that awaits them, there is no logical reason to accept Christ's atonement on the cross. One without the other is incomplete, and therefore false or misleading.

If you know the truth of the Gospel, it obligates you through love and mercy to share it with others. Common sense and common decency requires the one who knows the truth about Christ must share His invitation of salvation from the Hell to come. Yet, if people do not know they have offended God, and that sin requires [eternal] punishment, they are apt to believe the Bible is simply a Book that will improve their marriage, make them successful in business, or cure their various ills. Accepting Christ may improve your marriage and make you succeed in business. It certainly will cure your various ills.

Yet, the primary purpose of the Bible is to call men and women to be reconciled to God through Christ. It is a message of how to live - daily, in obedience to Christ and His commands. The Bible is a Book that reproves your arrogance and sin, and requires you to comply with - "Thus saith the LORD." The Bible is a rebuke to your selfishness and a charge to crucify your sinful tendencies.

Still, the fruit of righteousness given freely by the Father in Christ through the Holy Spirit is quietness and assurance forever. The effect of righteousness is peace on the inside, tranquility in the inner man. The evidence of a true child of God is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." [Gal 5:22 - 23]

The truth is Christ gives peace. This must be shared with others!