Scripture Union Daily Guide 24th June 2021 Thursday Message
Topic: Presenting The Message Creatively
Opening Prayer: May my heart, O Lord, be receptive to your word as I meditate on it.
Scripture: Ezekiel 5:1-17
Question(s) for Reflection
• Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
God ordered Ezekiel to use another form of symbolism involving shaving the hair on his head and his beard. Doing this is a real sacrifice for a Jew. The hair (in three parts) represents the people in Jerusalem who faced disasters: death by famine, death by the sword and dispersion among nations (See Deuteronomy 28:47-57). But a believing remnant (few strands of hair kept by Ezekiel in his garment) would be protected and saved by the Lord. Just as God gave Ezekiel creative ways to communicate his message to the exiles, we can creatively communicate the Good News. How can we do this today?
Read v 6-10 again and compare this with the worldliness in the Church today. Cf. 1 Pet 4:15-17. It was a serious sin to defile the Temple, God’s sanctuary, by worshipping idols and practising evil within its walls (v.11). In the New Testament, we learn that God now makes His home within those who are His.
Our bodies are God’s Temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). We defile God’s Temple today by allowing gossiping, bitterness, love of money, lying or any other wrong actions or attitudes to be a part of our lives. How do these vices affect our bodies?
Practice/Word Application
• Thought: What can we say about the long suffering of the Lord (2 Peter 3:1-9)? See Romans 2:4.
• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
• God, help me never to take your patience and long suffering for granted. • Pray that God will protect Christians against hostile governments
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Philippians 3:13-14; • Jer. 50; Phil. 2
Scripture Union Daily Guide 24th June 2021. Scripture Union is an international, inter-denominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God