Ordinary Time: Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Ezekiel 24:1-14

The Lord says in this passage that judgement will be given according to our actions. That is a heavy thought. While Paul tells us that there is no condemnation for those of us in Christ Jesus, we must do two things

1. Make sure we are in Christ Jesus. If we are not, then this is mute. Make sure He is our Lord and we are following His commandments.

2. Do not allow His grace to be an excuse to sin. Do not think that merely because He is a loving and forgiving God, that we can and should sin as much as we want. If today, you sinning, thinking that the Lord will forgive, are you really in Him? For, if we are in Him, He will be driving out the sin from our lives. Today, do not take His grace for granted.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 14:14-15:8

One of the things that Revelation shows us is that eternity will be all about praising God. It is interesting, I hear some folks say they don't like church and can worship God without coming to church. That is all nice and good, but what will these people do in heaven? The word of God shows us that heaven will be an eternity of worship of God.

If that is so, shouldn't we start now? Shouldn't we be about praising God now? We will do it for all eternity, if we are in Christ Jesus. Today, does your heart long to praise God? Do you long to spend time with God? If not, why not? If not, is your heart where it needs to be? Today, do you desire to worship Him?

Gospel Lesson

Luke 13:1-9

Today Jesus tell us not to be worried about the things we don't' understand, instead focus on what we do. I can't explain all mysteries. Last night in a small group we aer doing at church we talked about suffering and why bad things happen to good people, and I shared with the group, there is a mystery we just simply do not understand this side of glory will never understand. We have to, some how by God's grace, trust in our God that has suffered as we suffered

Today, Jesus tells the people that they shouldn't focus as much on the suffering they do not understand but instead focus on what they can do, repent. Today, do not focus as much on all the mysteries of life that you do not understand. Focus on what you do. And are you doing those things that you do know? That is what we must be doing.