Daily Devotional

In light of our new mission statement, "Enjoying and sharing the abundant life of Jesus," I have begun praying more about how to reach those that don't know the Lord. When you work at church and most of your activities revolve around church events; and the people you are with are mostly believers, it's hard. That's not a great excuse cuz many of upi can say the same. So when I came to this chapter in Ezekiel it really challenged me.

First off, I realized the Lord was talking to the shepherds. He is reproving them for their lack of attention to the flock. Because I am praying in regards to this, I took the things He told them they were failing to do and turned them around to encourage myself to do better.

Here's what I see:

• Feed the flock
• Strengthen the weak
• Heal the sick
• Bind the broken
• Bring back what has been driven away
• Seek the lost with gentleness and kindness
• Go search for them

Although all of them were good, a couple really stood out to me. The first was "Seek the lost with gentleness and kindness". People are in processes of healing. They need to know that they can come to Christ who loves them completely, "warts and all."  They will… if we do the same. And I was also reminded that my brothers and sisters in Christ need the same ("Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32).

Also, in light of my prayer, the other one that stood out to me was "Go search for them." The Lod said in verse 6 that "no one was seeking or searching for them." My prayers have always been, "Lord, show me who needs __________, point them out to me, bring them into my life." I don't think that's a bad prayer, but here it says I'm to go search for them.

It's a good challenge for me. I know it will always be the Lord that guides and directs. but now my posture is different. I am praying I will be in search mode; not waiting, but looking. And my my prayer is, "Lord, show me where to search."

Open My Eyes  Clara H Scott
 
Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth though hast for me
Place in my hand the wonderful key
That will unclas[ and set me free
Silently now I wait for Thee
Ready my God  Thy will to see
Open my eyes illumine me
Spirit divine

Open my ears that I may hear
Voices of truth Thour sendest clear
And while the wave notes fall on my ear
Ev'rything false will disappear
Silently not I wait for Thee
Ready my God  Thy will to see
Open my ears illumine me
Spirit divine
 
Open my mouth and let me bear
Gladly the warm truth ev'rywhere
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share
Silently now I wait for Thee
Ready my God Thy will to see
Open my mouth illumine me
Spirit divine

Public Domain | CCLI Song #68003 CCLI License #144020

New International Version (NIV)
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