Reading: 2 Peter 2:17-22, John 8:21-30, Job 5, Ezekiel 16

Recall:
They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for people are slaves to whatever masters them. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment that was passed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb,
“The dog turns back to its own vomit,”
and,
“The sow is washed only to wallow in the mud.”
2 Peter 2:19-22

How sick is your heart, says the Lord GOD, that you did all these things, the deeds of a brazen whore... Ezekiel 16:30

Reflect:
Really graphic language, each in their own way, in these passages: Ezekiel speaking of whoring and Peter bringing up being a slave and quoting the Hebrew scripture of a dog returning to its vomit. But man, as I look at my life and the habits that often keep me from becoming everything I want to become and that can keep me from a relationship with God and others, those images really describe what I feel like sometimes.
Respond:
God, I will focus my attention on you. Every morning I will turn to you. Because I can't do it myself. The horrible truth about myself is that I am..no I am not...but my behavior often reflects that of the whore, the slave, the dog returning to its own vomit. I want to change.

Reading: 2 Peter 2:17-22, John 8:21-30, Job 5, Ezekiel 16

Recall:
They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for people are slaves to whatever masters them. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment that was passed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb,
“The dog turns back to its own vomit,”
and,
“The sow is washed only to wallow in the mud.”
2 Peter 2:19-22

How sick is your heart, says the Lord GOD, that you did all these things, the deeds of a brazen whore... Ezekiel 16:30

Reflect:
Really graphic language, each in their own way, in these passages: Ezekiel speaking of whoring and Peter bringing up being a slave and quoting the Hebrew scripture of a dog returning to its vomit. But man, as I look at my life and the habits that often keep me from becoming everything I want to become and that can keep me from a relationship with God and others, those images really describe what I feel like sometimes.
Respond:
God, I will focus my attention on you. Every morning I will turn to you. Because I can't do it myself. The horrible truth about myself is that I am..no I am not...but my behavior often reflects that of the whore, the slave, the dog returning to its own vomit. I want to change.

John 8:12-20, 2 Peter 2:10-16, Job 4, Ezekiel 13-15

Recall:
John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

Job 4:17 "Can mortals be righteous before God? Can human beings be pure before their Maker?

Ezekiel 13:2 "Mortal, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying; say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: 'Hear the word of the Lord!'"

Ezekiel 13:14 "I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it to the ground, so that its foundations will be laid bare; when it falls, you shall perish within it and you shall know that I am the Lord."

Reflect:
"He who follows me will never walk in darkness" -what a promise - can I count on it? What is darkness? So many questions I want answered before I follow, but they are never completely answered until I follow!

I wonder how many "prophesy out of their own imagination"? Heck, I wonder how often I do that?

I love the prophecy against the whitewashed wall. It's gonna fall!! Not because, I believe, God knocks it down, but because it just can't stand.

Inner transformation is what is needed--following Jesus, living in the light. It's all about consistency in the relationship.

Respond:
Yeah, Job's friend was a jerk, but in this instance he was right. I can't be righteous before God. There is nothing I can do outside of making myself available.

God, I will follow. I will--I have to--follow the Jesus way. I want my wall to be solid from the inside out. I want to be changed--I want those around me to be changed--I want the world to change.

John 8:1-11, 2 Peter 2:1-9, Job 3, Ezekiel 9-12

Recall
...then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to help the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement

Job 3:23 "Why is light given to one who cannot see the way, whom God has fenced in?

Reflect:
Wow. Not exactly inspirational reading. Here is the author of 2 Peter affirming ideas about a retributive, punishing God

The verse from Job is heart-breakingly poignant. I don't know that I have ever noticed it before. It is a cry of utter despair...Why is light even given to one whom God has fenced in? I wonder how many people sitting in our pew on Sunday morning feel that way? How can we respond to people in this situation?

Respond:
God, thank you for the reminders that you are not who I make you out to be. You are mysterious. You are God. You are you. Give me a heart for the hurting, for the ones so full of despair that they may even wonder why I'm talking to them.