Comparing Others 09.10.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are continuing our studies on the book of Ezekiel, please read Chapters 25-28 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2025-28&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the judgement of the Gentiles (nations); the judgement upon Tyre's king; and the future regathering of Israel. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that we can not justify our actions by comparing ourselves to the failures of others.

The island of Tyre was on the Mediterranean sea and was one of the richest cities of the world. It's wealth was gained by a commercial business of ships and it's fleet was the greatest of all the nations. However, the land was full of immoral idolatry and rejoicing over the destruction of Jerusalem. Through Ezekiel God warned them, "And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up." (Ezekiel 26:1-3). God foretold that Tyre would be fully destroyed and that its competition no longer existed.

Tyre seemed like the most secure place on earth. But, Nebuchadnezzar battled against this mighty city and besieged its fortress for thirteen years until it was defeated. Then the rulers of Tyre moved the city to an island off the mainland. Surrounded by water and their great fleet of ships they once again thought they were secure above all places on the earth.

However, Alexander the Great besieged Tyre, tore down the walls, towers, and other buildings of the old Tyre on the mainland, and used them as material to build a causeway in the water, literally a rock road directly to the island, fulfilling Ezekiel's prophecy of it's destruction. "By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach. With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets: he shall slay thy people by the sword, and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground. And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water." (26:10-12).

The attitude and destruction of Tyre should be a warning for us today, we can not rejoice in the downfall of our competition, whether it be business or personal. Christian's who resent the success of others and rejoice in their failure have much to repent. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:25-26). There is no failure in God's eyes, all the trials we face are opportunities for us to repent, move onward and forward to better things, and to succeed. "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." (I Corinthians 13:6-7).

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed through the One who will execute judgment upon Satan (Ezekiel 28:14-19). The return of Christ will bring the judgement upon Satan, "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:2).

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
It is not by mistake, but by Your design that we experience the detours of life that give us perspective in a way that nothing else does. Though we see others who travail in difficulty, it is particularly when we ourselves experience tough terrain that we seek to understand Your purpose for the trial we are enduring. Help us to persevere in the midst of uncertainty and unfamiliar landscape. May we find joy in the simple pleasures we overlooked when life’s journey was routine and uninterrupted by the surprise of difficult detours that bring about delay or a change of plans. May the testing of our faith bring about maturity and give us a new perspective that makes us stronger in our faith and more effective in our witness to those around us. May they see a grateful spirit in us even as we undergo difficulty so that we glorify Your name rather magnify our problems. In Jesus' name.....Amen.

Have a great and wonderfully blessed day!
God Bless You,
Christina

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