September 18
32“I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel.” (Ezekiel 36:32)
Happy Saturday friends! I hope you are having a nice relaxing weekend spending time with family and comrades. I know I have been beating American culture up a lot lately, but, again, reading the verse above, if you just replace the nation of Israel with America, it’s pretty spot on. And I don’t have to remind you of how Americans are consumed with their wealth, social status, idols, icons, comforts, careers, self-indulgence, greed, crime, bullying, wasteful entertainment, destroying the environment, etc, all the while claiming to be a great “Christian nation,” who supports religious freedom and democracy. I don’t have to point out our own shame and disgrace. I think I have done that enough this year. So I just want to remind y’all that we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do. But I believe we can still be a force for good in this world. I believe if we all shift our focus to serving others and being a slave to the Gospel we can propel those around us to live better lives. I believe if we always choose to love others over everything else, we will break the hold the darkness has on this world.
I also believe the new album by Bethel Music is going to be a fresh sound as we march into fall. Click below to sample the second single off this massive album that drops next Friday.
Reading plan: Hebrews 6:1-12
Deeper reading plan: Ezekiel 35, 36
