November 21

Ezekiel 42-43

Holiness marks every inch of the Temple grounds and its servants. No one may serve God unless God first makes them holy. No one calls themselves into God’s service. He appointed His servants throughout the Old Testament, and under the New Covenant, God calls Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers to lead (Ephesians 4:11), and all believers to grow the Church. God’s holiness makes Him separate, different, and in control of everything related to knowing Him—it is He who makes His servants holy (1 Peter 1:2).

We might think of holiness as usefulness. If we’re no different than people outside God’s family, what’s the point of being in God’s family?

James 5

Some people try to use James 5 to either condemn wealth or to somehow connect godliness to poverty, which is absurd. Anyone even mildly acquainted with poverty knows how much misery it brings. What we see in Scripture is God providing wealth (Abraham, Job, David, Solomon, Matthew, Joanna, Lazarus, and many of Jesus’ disciples were wealthy). Jesus possessed a tunic at the time of His crucifixion that only wealthy men could own. Deuteronomy 8:18 says remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth… The Devil’s system creates more poverty, and devilish people try to dress it up as caring for the poor.

Psalm 119:1-16

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. The heart determines direction.

Proverbs 28:6-7

Today’s proverbs help illuminate other readings. (I love when that happens!)