From: November 5, 2025
“Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them?” (Ezekiel 14:3 ESV).
When certain elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord through Ezekiel, the Lord revealed their hypocrisy to him. They appeared devout outwardly, but inwardly they had “taken their idols into their hearts.” Their devotion was divided—God on their lips, idols in their hearts. This was not the open idolatry of bowing to statues, but a secret, inward allegiance to other loves—ambition, self-sufficiency, or the approval of men. These heart-idols became the “stumbling block of their iniquity,” the very thing causing them to fall into sin. God’s question—“Should I let myself be consulted by them?”—shows that their prayers are hindered while idols rule their hearts. The Lord sees beyond our outward religion to the inward posture of our hearts (1 Sam. 16:7; Isa. 29:13).
There is a type of idol that is unseen, yet just as surely fashioned and worshiped in the human heart. This idol of the heart comes between us and God. Those elevated to leadership must recognize their particular vulnerability to this kind of idolatry. These idols are not made of wood or stone, but of pride, power, possessions, or position. They deceive us into self-reliance and make our prayer life ineffective. As with the elders in Ezekiel’s day, we may appear to seek God while secretly clutching our own ambitions. When our hearts cling to idols, our prayers hit the ceiling. But when we repent—tearing down the inner altars that compete with our devotion—God restores fellowship and hears our cries (Ps. 66:18; 1 John 1:9). Let us remove whatever has stolen our affection from God and return to our first love in Christ Jesus.
PRAYER: Dear Father, search us and see if there is any hidden idol in our hearts. We only want You at the center of our lives. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to pull our affections off our idols and place them wholly on You. Empower us to tear them down, that we might love and serve You first. We want Your will, not ours. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: November 5, 2024
“For I am the LORD; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 12:25 ESV).
The people of Judah would not listen to the warnings that God spoke through His prophet, Ezekiel. Indeed, a kind of proverb or saying was being repeated during his day: “The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing” (Ez. 12:22). The people had become hardened in their hearts, closing their ears to God’s word. They heard the warnings, but either discounted them as false, or delayed their consideration by saying they wouldn’t happen during their lifetimes. They were wrong on both accounts. For God did judge Jerusalem exactly as He said He would and during the very lifetimes of those who wouldn’t listen.
I wonder whether we are sometimes guilty of the same kind of thinking? I’m sure there are those who doubt Christ’s second coming and the final judgment even though they have heard the warnings. Yet, there are even more who don’t doubt that it will happen, but lazily live their lives as though Christ will not come during their lifetimes. The prophecies concerning Christ’s return are 2,000 years old and still we have heard no trumpet, nor seen the parting of the heavens. So, many are lulled into lethargy.
Didn’t Jesus himself instruct us to “watch” and “be ready” (Matt. 24:42, 44), because He would return at an hour we do not expect? So, we watch, not passively, but actively, being ready by being busy about what Christ has commanded us to do until He returns. We do this because we believe that if God says it, it will happen.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we trust Your Word. We eagerly await the appearing of Your Son, Jesus. Yet forgive us for when we live as if Your Word will not be fulfilled in our time. Empower us to live with a holy sense of urgency for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: November 5, 2023
‘Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”’ (Hebrews 7:16-17 NLT).
Quoting Psalm 110:4, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek”, the book of Hebrews declares Jesus to be the fulfillment of this messianic prophecy. Jesus is our eternal high priest. Melchizedek is a Christological type, foreshadowing Jesus the Messiah.
Melchizedek, whose name means “King of Righteousness,” was both the king of Salem and priest of God Most High (Gen. 14:18). It was he whom Abraham paid a tithe after he had blessed him after his victory over his enemies.
Though Jesus was born into the royal line of Judah and not the priestly line of Levi, His priesthood is superior because His priestly claim preceded Levi’s and is in every way superior to his. This is why the book of Hebrews spoke of the perpetuity of Melchizedek’s priesthood, showing that it predated the Levitical priesthood, and continues on after it for eternity. For Christ’s priesthood is based on an indestructible life. For He was raised from the dead, defeating sin, death, and the grave and He “always lives to make intercession” (Heb. 7:25) for us.
So then, what was the purpose of the Law and the Levitical priesthood? It was a foreshadowing and a tutor (Gal. 3:24) preparing the people of God for its fulfillment in Christ Jesus. In Him, the threefold office of Prophet, Priest and King are united. Christ is our Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, forever standing before the Father making intercession for us.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your Word. For we catch glimpses of Christ Jesus on every page. We are thankful that we can offer our prayers to You always in His name. For Jesus is our eternal high priest. Strengthen us and lead us this day to do Your will according to Your mighty power. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: November 5, 2022
GOD’S MORNING MESSAGE
Rising up early in the morning, Ezekiel received a message from the Lord. No internet, no morning news, no ESPN updates, no emails, no personal plans, just the Word. God’s Word came to him and there was no room for anything else. His day was decided because he heard a message from the Lord.
Men and women of God throughout the centuries have had this same morning habit of seeking a word from the Lord to begin their day. Even the Son of God, the Lord Jesus, sought time with His Father to begin His day. The gospel of Mark described how Jesus spent His mornings, saying, “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray” (Mark 1:35).
How do you begin your day? Do you check the inbox from heaven to read God’s morning message? Do you get alone with God to pray?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we come before You today listening to hear a word from You. We pray that Your Word would come to us afresh. Abide in us today by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: November 5, 2016
Melchizedek, whose name means “King of Righteousness,” was the king of Salem (or “Shalom – Peace”), whom Abraham paid a tithe (Gen. 14). Quoting Psalm 110:4, the author of Hebrews spoke of the perpetuity of Melchizedek’s priesthood, showing that it predated the Levitical priesthood, and continues on after it to eternity. Though Jesus was born into the royal line of Judah and not the priestly line of Levi, His priesthood is superior because His priestly claim preceded Levi’s and is in every way superior to his. So then, what was the purpose of the Law and the Levitical priesthood? It was a foreshadowing and a tutor (Gal. 3:24) preparing the people of God for its fulfillment in Christ Jesus. In Him, the threefold office of Prophet, Priest and King are united. Christ is our Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, forever standing before the Father making intercession for us.