One of my greatest struggles is wanting to be known. I can tell myself I'm not the center of the universe, but on some level I want to be recognized, acknowledged, appreciated, thought of. We all do. It's a God thing. The sin in me seeks recognition and acknowledgement from other people through means that are self-centered, stealing the reputation of others, creating envy and strife. The Christ centered part of me knows that God gave His all to recognize and save me. That is more than enough. It is a characteristic of God--a part of being made in His image--to be known.
The book of Ezekiel is all about God revealing Himself to mankind. The phrase, "Then they will know that I am the LORD," is used 65 times. In Ezekiel 35:11, He says, “therefore as I live... I will deal with you according to your anger and according to your envy which you showed because of your hatred... so I will make Myself known among them when I judge you.”
Have I seen or sought Him in difficulty? Have I acknowledged His hand in blessings, in pleasant experiences and prosperity? Either way His desire and goal is to make Himself known. If I fail to look to Him, depend on Him, seek, worship and acknowledge Him in the good, He will reveal Himself in other ways. That is the focus, the goal, the treasure: God and God alone.
Am I looking, listening, acknowledging His supremacy today? There will be a day when "every knee will bow of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11). May that day be today in my life....
The book of Ezekiel is all about God revealing Himself to mankind. The phrase, "Then they will know that I am the LORD," is used 65 times. In Ezekiel 35:11, He says, “therefore as I live... I will deal with you according to your anger and according to your envy which you showed because of your hatred... so I will make Myself known among them when I judge you.”
God makes Himself known in judgment as well as prosperity. He meets out punishment in accordance with our sin and rebellion. We deserve nothing more than just recompense for our actions, thoughts, words, and choices. Our good does not outweigh our bad. Good is not equal to bad. Good is expected. Good is required. Perfect goodness is the baseline (James 2:10-13). So, in reality, I deserve God's punishment regardless of any good work of my own--I can't make the cut. But He Himself paid the penalty of my sin. Amazing! Only God could do that--or would do that.
Have I seen or sought Him in difficulty? Have I acknowledged His hand in blessings, in pleasant experiences and prosperity? Either way His desire and goal is to make Himself known. If I fail to look to Him, depend on Him, seek, worship and acknowledge Him in the good, He will reveal Himself in other ways. That is the focus, the goal, the treasure: God and God alone.
Am I looking, listening, acknowledging His supremacy today? There will be a day when "every knee will bow of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11). May that day be today in my life....
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