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November 16

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JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD

From: November 16, 2024

“And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd” (Ezekiel 34:23 ESV).

Amidst His words of divine judgment, God gave Israel a promise of a coming shepherd who would lead and feed them as God’s own flock. This shepherd was to be none other than God’s own “servant David,” who would be both shepherd and “prince” (Ez.34:24). This was one of the clearest Messianic prophecies given to Israel.

Perhaps Jesus was remembering this prophecy that God gave to Ezekiel when He said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). For when Jesus, Son of David, Son of God came, they rejected Him, turning Him over to be crucified on a Roman cross. Jesus the Servant has already come. Jesus the Prince will soon come again.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Jesus, our Good Shepherd. For He has come just as You said. And He will return just as He has promised. Now strengthen us to follow Him and to be His under-shepherds of the flock with Him as our Head. In Jesus’ name, amen.

RELYING ON THE NEVER CHANGING CHRIST IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD

From: November 16, 2023

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace” (Hebrews 13:8-9 NLT).

The author of Hebrews warned believers not to be led astray by strange and various teachings that might come along. They were to remember the teachings and conduct of those who first shared the gospel with them and discipled them in the Word. In the midst of this warning, the truth of Christ’s unchanging, immutable nature was given. He is timeless. He is always the same.

Why offer this truth here? Perhaps not so much for its theological insight, but for its help in standing firm in a chaotic world. For in a world constantly swirling with change, the Lord Jesus Christ is unchanging. He is the Rock on which our faith stands as the rivers of time pass swiftly by. He is the Shelter in which we rest as the winds of change blow. Jesus is the same. He is constant. He is always there for us. Always available. Always dependable. Even when the best of friends become fickle, He is the Friend who laid down His life for us and continually advocates for us.

When everything around us becomes undependable and unpredictable, Jesus is the One we can always depend on and look to. “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

PRAYER: Dear Father, we live in uncertain times, yet our faith is in the certainty of Christ Jesus. And the more these times change, the more we look to our unchanging Savior. The more unstable things become, the more we stand on the Rock, Christ Jesus. Strengthen us to stand by faith in Him always. Guide us by Your Spirit like a North Star, when all seems dark and unclear. Help us to fulfill Your purpose for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Your people are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right,’ but it is they who are not doing what’s right” (Ezekiel 33:17 NLT).

From: November 16, 2022

WHEN A PEOPLE ACCUSE THE LORD

When a people lose their fear of the Lord and begin to lift their own judgments above His, that nation will not long survive. The prophet Ezekiel warned the people of Judah to repent. Yet they responded by accusing God of injustice rather than repenting themselves.

Today, we often hear people accusing God of injustice, either as a way of questioning His existence, or in response to the warnings from His Word. Such a people should take care, lest history repeat itself. For Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians just as Ezekiel had warned.

Remember what the apostle Paul wrote, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant” (Gal. 6:7).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we pray for revival in our land. We ask that Your Spirit convict us of sin and move us to repentance. Strengthen us to stand firm against the devil and to share the gospel to everyone. Have mercy on our nation by sending revival to our city, state and country. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 HCSB).

From: November 16, 2021

RELYING ON THE NEVER CHANGING CHRIST IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD

The author of Hebrews warned believers not to be “led astray” by strange and various teachings that might come along. They were to remember the teachings and conduct of those who first shared the gospel with them and discipled them in the Word. In the midst of this warning, the truth of Christ’s unchanging, immutable nature was given. He is timeless. He is always the same.
 
Why offer this truth here? Perhaps not so much for its theological insight, but for its help in standing firm in a chaotic world. For in a world constantly swirling with change, the Lord Jesus Christ is unchanging. He is the Rock on which our faith stands as the rivers of time pass swiftly by. He is the Shelter in which we rest as the winds of change blow. Jesus is the same. He is constant. He is always there for us. Always available. Always dependable. Even when the best of friends become fickle, He is the Friend who laid down His life for us and continually advocates for us.
 
When everything around us becomes undependable and unpredictable, Jesus is the One we can always depend on and look to. “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we live in uncertain times, yet our faith is in the certainty of Christ Jesus. And the more these times change, the more we look to our unchanging Savior. The more unstable things become, the more we stand on the Rock, Christ Jesus. Strengthen us to stand by faith in Him always. Guide us by Your Spirit like a North Star, when all seems dark and unclear. Help us to fulfill Your purpose for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV).

From: November 16, 2020

THE IMMUTABLE, ETERNAL CHRIST IS OURS

The author of Hebrews warned believers not to be “carried about” by strange and various teachings that might come along. They were to remember the teachings and conduct of those who first shared the gospel with them and discipled them in the Word. In the midst of this warning, the truth of Christ’s unchanging, immutable nature was given. He is timeless. He is always the same.
 
Why offer this truth here? Perhaps not so much as a theological doctrine, although it certainly is, but as an encouragement to persevere. For in a world constantly swirling with change, the Lord Jesus Christ is unchanging. He is the Rock on which our faith stands as the rivers of time pass swiftly by. He is the Shelter in which we rest as the winds of change blow. Jesus is the same. He is constant. He is always there for us. Always available. Always dependable. Even when the best of friends become fickle, He is the Friend who laid down His life for us.
 
When everything around us becomes undependable and unpredictable, Jesus is the One we can always depend on and look to. “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we live in uncertain times, yet our faith is in the certainty of Christ Jesus. And the more these times change, the more we look to our unchanging Savior. The more unstable things become, the more we stand on the Rock, Christ Jesus. Strengthen us to stand by faith in Him always. Guide us by Your Spirit like a North Star, when all seems dark and unclear. Help us to fulfill Your purpose for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Your people are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right,’ but it is they who are not doing what’s right” (Ezekiel 33:17 NLT).

From: November 16, 2019

WHEN A PEOPLE ACCUSE THE LORD OF WRONG

When a people lose their fear of the Lord and begin to lift their own judgments above His, that nation will not long survive. The prophet Ezekiel warned the people of Judah to repent. Yet they responded by accusing God of injustice rather than repenting themselves. Today, we often hear people accusing God of injustice, either as a way of questioning His existence, or in response to the warnings from His Word. Such a people should take care, lest history repeat itself. For Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians just as Ezekiel had warned.
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we pray for revival in our land. We ask that Your Spirit convict us of sin and move us to repentance. Strengthen us to stand firm against the devil and to share the gospel to everyone. Have mercy on our nation by sending revival to our city, state and country. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen” (Hebrews 13:21 NLT).

From: November 16, 2018

A BENEDICTION OF SANCTIFICATION
This prayer for our equipping and sanctification reveals God’s method for making us “pleasing to him.” It is none other than the power of Christ in us. We can pray this prayer too. Praying it for ourselves, we yield our wills to His, and acknowledge our dependence on Christ’s power. Praying it for others, we focus on Christ-at-work in others, rather than their shortcomings.

“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me” (Ezekiel 33:7 NKJV).

From: November 16, 2017

The Lord called Ezekiel to be a “watchman.” A watchman keeps watch, especially during the night, while the city sleeps. He warns the city when he sees trouble approaching. Ezekiel was called to be God’s watchman, warning Israel of God’s coming judgment and calling them to repentance. The Lord would not hold him accountable for Israel’s response, only for his obedience to sound the alarm. If Ezekiel warned Israel and she did not repent, he was innocent of her blood. But if Ezekiel failed to warn Israel, her blood would be on his hands. This is the weight of responsibility that goes with being God’s watchman.
 
Who is called to be God’s “watchman” today?

From: November 16, 2016

016 – I had TURP surgery yesterday morning at 6:30 AM at Wilson Medical Center by Dr. Rounder. I spent two nights in the hospital. I didn’t post in the OYB for a week.

“I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd” (Ezekiel 34:23 NKJV)

From: November 16, 2015

Amidst His words of divine judgment, God gave Israel a promise of a coming shepherd who would lead and feed them as God’s own flock. This shepherd was to be none other than God’s own “servant David,” who would be both shepherd and “prince” (Ez.34:24). This was one of the clearest Messianic prophecies given to Israel. Yet, when Jesus, Son of David, Son of God came, they rejected Him, turning Him over to be crucified on a Roman cross. Jesus the Servant has already come. Jesus the Prince will soon come again.