Witness

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Daniel 12:3 Shine Like The Stars

Starry sky

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:3 

It is very common for most people to want to shine. They want to look great before others. People want their hard work recognized and exalted by others.

Many people want to be the best at what they do and receive the honors to go with it. Singers want the number one recording. Actors want to gain the Oscar. The sports player wants the player of the year award. Having these things makes a person shine brightly and will be remembered longer.

As Daniel closes out his book, he is given a vision of the very end of time on this earth. In the end there will be a time of judgement. Those who are wise will shine forever and ever.

In another location in the bible it states that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Doing what God wants is the greatest wisdom that a person can possess. It goes beyond any wisdom that this world can offer, because it is eternal.

The greatest work that a person can do for God is to lead other people to righteousness…to Jesus…to God. Doing that was the entire goal of Jesus when He walked upon the earth and He passed that mission on to every believer.

There are many believers who have taken the step to live for God, but are not moving forward in being wise and leading others to God. They are not striving to be a witness of who Jesus is to this fallen world. This is not true wisdom, nor love of God. It is selfishness to live for self and gain life for one’s own self. He must work to build God’s kingdom.

As a believer you must ask yourself if you are being wise. It is wise to believe in Jesus, but it does not end there. Believing in Jesus will also mean that you will do what He desires.

Jesus wants you to be His witness and point the lost and dying to Him. He wants you to train others up in the ways of God, the ways of righteousness and holiness. To do anything less, is to not fully love God or others.

When you are being His witness and building His kingdom, you will shine like the stars for all eternity.

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know God’s heart for other people; that you will be wise in God’s ways; that you will carry out God’s mission for you on this earth; and that you will shine for God in this dark world. 

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Ezekiel 48:35 What Is Your Name?

Books on a shelf

The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE. Ezekiel 48:35 

Titles or names can be important to let people know about something. It allows people to know who someone is and what his position is. It allows people to know what city, county or state they are in.

Without any names, people would only have confusion. No one would know who anyone or anything is. There would be no division as to what is good and what is bad.

Ezekiel was given a vision of the future city of Jerusalem. As he finishes out the vision and the book, he is told that the name of the city would be: The Lord Is There.

There are some people in the church who do not believe that titles should be used by anyone. They feel that titles is sinful and only fills one with pride. However, God used titles throughout the bible. Think of all the titles were given to God: provider, banner, shepherd. God also gave people titles: friend, priest, minister, witness.

One of the titles that every believer has in common is that he is a Christian. That title lets everyone know that he is a follower of Jesus. Being a follower of Jesus, also means that one has His Holy Spirit to guide him. Thus he also has the ancient title that Jerusalem had–The Lord Is There.

God is with every believer and the world should be able to see that. It is what sets a believer apart from the rest of the world. It is what drives him to live a life that is different. It is what compels him to turn away from sin and sinful practices. God’s presence is what gives the believer strength to love everyone, including his enemies.

You, also have a title and a name. When people look at you, who do they see? When they talk about you, what do they say?

You are a child of God and God’s presence is with you. Live your life in a way that brings honor to the name God has given you. Be willing to let the world know who Jesus is and what He has done for you and for them.

Just as God had said He would be with the city forever, He is also with you forever. You can have the name–The Lord Is There.

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know God’s presence in your life; that the world will know God is with you; and that you will be God’s witness to the world. 

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Ezekiel 33:7 Be The Watchman

Two guards watching

Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. Ezekiel 33:7 

The watchman is the person who stands out ahead, closer to the enemy territory, to give warning of anyone who is coming. He is a type of a guard for those being guarded. They are to watch for any activity that is occurring that may have an effect upon those being guarded.

In order to be a good watchman, the person must stay alert and be watching. Then he must be quick about warning what is going to happen, giving the people a chance to react to the situation.

God calls Ezekiel a watchman and charges him to speak whatever God tells him to say. Ezekiel is to give the people a warning.

Being a watchman for God is not some light and easy task. It takes effort to listen to what God is saying. It is having a discerning heart to know what is really going on. It also takes strength and bravery to speak out when danger is on the way.

In the spiritual realm, the danger is often not seen as a physical danger. It is often a danger of the heart and soul. The greatest event to come is when Jesus returns to judge the world and the heart and soul of every person.

Every believer has been charged to be a watchman, a witness, for God. They must warn the people of the coming judgement and the path to death that they are on.

The world cannot see the danger that they are in, because they do not have discerning eyes or ears. They cannot hear the word of God. It is the responsibility of the believer to warn them and let them know.

As a believer you know what is going to happen some day. You can see how the world is living in sin and headed down a path to destruction. You can also hear God’s word to the world today.

It is your responsibility to warn the people. Jesus has charged you to be His witness to all of the world. It is not your responsibility as to how the world reacts to God’s word, but you must share it with them.

Do not be afraid to speak God’s word. Allow God to reveal to you what must be said and to whom it must be said. Be God’s watchman today.

I pray today that you will know God’s word in your heart; that God will reveal to you what is to come; that you will warn the people of what God is going to do; and that you will be God’s witness to all people. 

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Ezekiel 22:30 Stand In The Gap

Gap in rock wall

I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the Land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. Ezekiel 22:30

There are people who are mediators that stand in between two people or groups of people to represent both. Their whole purpose is to help both groups out for each one’s best interest. It is helping the weaker one be able to move up and the stronger one to step down into agreement.

Doing something like this is a difficult job, because it requires understanding of both sides. Some will hate a person for doing something like this, because it may feel like it is going against their way of doing things.

God was getting ready to destroy the land. He searched for person who would stand in the gap for the land and the people. This person would plead for their cause and seek to restore them to God. However, God was unable to find anyone willing to do that.

Although God may or may not be getting ready to destroy a land or people physically, there is soon a coming day in which He will judge all people and destroy the earth. This is the final judgement against sin and every person will be judged.

He is still looking for someone to stand in the gap. This person is what Jesus called the witness. Everyone who follows God is to be His witness to everyone else he meets. Being the witness is standing in the gap letting the people of this world know that there is a coming judgement. This judgement can be escaped by believing in and following Jesus with all of their heart and life.

Sadly, many in the church do not want to stand in the gap. They want God to judge and destroy the world and their enemies.

You have a choice to make. God is calling you to be His witness. He is calling you to stand in the gap for the people.

As His witness you are His representative upon this earth. You are also their representative before God. You can plead their challenges and struggles before God to bring the walls down in their lives. You can plead for God to change their heart and call them towards Him. This is standing in the gap for the lost.

Are you standing in the gap for others today?

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will be His witness to this lost and dying world; that you will stand in the gap before God for the lost; and that many will come to Jesus and be saved through your stand.