https://esv.literalword.com/?q=ezekiel+9%3B+titus+1
Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Friday, 8 September 2023:
Ezekiel 9:4 — Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.
This is the mark of God’s people, also described in Revelation 14:1 — “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” These are they who are in the family of God, united with Jesus and the Father. These are they who stand for Jesus in opposition of the world and often suffer for it. These followers of Christ are contrasted with those who have chosen to live as members of the godless earthly kingdoms and have a different mark — “Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name…. If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath…. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: ‘Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.’ And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” (Revelation 13:16, 17; 14:9, 10; 17:5, 6 )
At some point, every person must choose to follow God as a citizen of God’s Kingdom or man and his kingdom. Those who choose to follow Jesus ultimately can have no partnership with the corrupt systems of this world and will have to stand in opposition. The Book of Revelation describes the ultimate fate of the faithful — “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years…. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” (Revelation 20:4; 22:4)
Many Christians await a day when they will have to make some obvious and dramatic choice to either reject God or be persecuted by the world, not realizing that they have already made this choice and make it every day. Will you compromise today and partner with corruption in order to get paid, to have security, to have ‘friends,’ and to live comfortably without conflict, or will you stand for what is right today regardless the cost? Will identify yourself as a follower of Christ today or as something else — an American, an employee of a particular organization, a member of a particular political party, etc? Will you put your life on the line to confront sin and proclaim the need for confession, repentance and salvation through faith in Jesus, as John the Baptist did? If you are Christian, you are an Ambassador for Christ, either an honorable one or a dishonorable one. As an Ambassador, you cannot represent two different entities.
- Revelation 3:15-16 — 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.’”
- Matthew 12:30 — Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Note: Here is a link to a video overview of Titus: https://youtu.be/PUEYCVXJM3k
Titus 1:4 – To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
When you were saved, you were saved into a family — “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13) Do you see and treat other Christians as your true family in Christ? How close are you with the members of your Christian family? Do you continually pray that your family in Christ would more fully realize the grace and peace of Jesus, and do you seek to be God’s instrument of grace and peace in their lives? Do you have a heart to serve fellow Christians with joy and contentment, without complaint?
Today’s focus verse reminds me of some things Jesus said –
- Mark 3:33-35 — And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
- John 17:22-23 — The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
- John 13:35 — By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
- Hebrews 10:24, 25 — And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” (1 Peter 3:8) The mark of a true Christian and a truly Christian church is unity in Christ, the unity for which Jesus prayed before going to the Cross (John 17:22-23), a unity which supernaturally overcomes all of the social stratifications which commonly divide people, a unity which is so visible and amazing that it serves as a great testimony to the world of the truth of Jesus Christ (John 17:22-23). Note the sort of unity displayed in the early church – “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.” (Acts 13:1) What an unlikely crew to lead a church, people from diverse ethnic, social, religious, and political backgrounds, now united in the only thing which can really unite, faith in Jesus Christ. Are you actively sharing life and the Gospel with a small diverse group like this? Do you and your close Christian companions stand out to others because of the unity you share in your mutual love for Christ? Abide in Christ by abiding in Christian relationships, working together to bring others into the family of Christ too.
- 1 John 4:12 — No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
- 1 John 3:14 — We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
- 1 John 2:10 — Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
- Psalm 133:1 — Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
Titus 1:15 — To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
From Henry T. Blackaby: “Your heart’s condition will be expressed through your life. It will be evident by your attitudes, your words, and your behavior. Jesus said that you can clearly see others only when your own eyes are unobstructed (Luke 6:42). If your vision is hindered by sin, you will not look at others properly.
If your heart is pure, you will approach life without malice. You will not question the motives of everyone around you; you will not doubt the truth of everything others tell you; you will not look for fault in others. Instead, you will look for the good in others, finding what is praiseworthy. You will not be naive or gullible, but you will seek what is good rather than what is evil. If your heart is pure, you will see others the way God sees them (Matt. 6:22).
If your heart is defiled, everything with which you are involved will seem corrupt as well. You will assume evil motives in others because you know what you would do given the same circumstances. You will be cynical about what you hear because your own words are deceitful. You will be drawn to evil people and evil things.
How do you look at the words and actions of others? Are you critical of them? Are you judgmental? If so, ask God to purify your heart. Once He has, you will be free to see yourself and others as God does.”
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 8 September 2023: Pray that God will help you grow in love for your church family, that you would be one with them in Christ and that your love for them would be a powerful testimony to the world.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 