READING: Ezekiel 40-41
TEXTS AND APPLICATION: These chapters begin Ezekiel’s vision of the new Temple in a future messianic kingdom. It’s the longest recorded vision in the Bible after the book of Revelation, and it is a dramatic and detailed reminder that God will accomplish His plan; He will keep His Word. As a previous vision of Ezekiel showed God’s departure from the Temple (Ezek. 9-10), this vision shows God’s establishing His people again as a holy nation.
It’s not the vision itself that primarily gives me pause today, though; it’s the word of the man sent to give directions to Ezekiel:
Ezek. 40:4 He spoke to me: “Son of man, look with your eyes, listen with your ears, and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for you have been brought here so that I might show it to you. Report everything you see to the house of Israel.”
The ESV translates “pay attention to everything I am going to show you” as “set your heart upon all that I shall show you.” So, the man told Ezekiel, “Look closely. Listen well. Set your heart on what you see because you’re here for this reason. Then, go tell the people.” Ezekiel would give them hope that day through this vision of the future.
I realize my calling as a proclaimer of the gospel — indeed, our calling as believers, regardless of our employment or status — is not that of prophets sent to reveal a vision. It’s greater than that. Our calling is to introduce our neighbors and the nations to the name of Jesus. It’s to proclaim a past event (the cross) and a promised future (heaven) that completely change our present (salvation).
So, this is what I want to do as I read God’s Word daily: Look with my eyes. Listen with my ears. Pay attention to all I see and read. Set my heart on it. Know that God teaches me His Word for a purpose. Then go and tell the world, including the church, about Jesus and His coming kingdom.
That’s a call to live with eternity in mind.
PRAYER: “God, let me love to read and hear Your Word. Set my heart on things above and things to come. Let me not miss anything You’re doing. So fascinate me with the story that I can’t help but go tell others.”
TOMORROW¹S READING: Ezekiel 42-43
