INTERESTING FACTS : Joseph Story, U. S. CONGRESSMAN; "FATHER OF AMERICAN JURISPRUDENCE"; U. S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT JAMES MADISON

"One of the beautiful boasts of our municipal jurisprudence is that Christianity is a part of the Common Law. There never has been a period in which the Common Law did not recognize Christianity as lying at its foundations. I verily believe that Christianity is necessary to support a civil society and shall ever attend to its institutions and acknowledge its precepts as the pure and natural sources of private and social happiness."

 

Daily Reading : EZEKIEL 21 - 22

 

TEXT : EZE 22:25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.  22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.  22:27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.  22:28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.  22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.  22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.  22:31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

 

THEME : SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

 

The prophets, priests, and princes agreed. They all departed from the LORD, and encouraged each other in their [mutually established] evil way. Thus, the LORD employs the word "conspiracy,' since the word implies a premeditated course of action. It is said - "misery loves company." The fact is - everyone loves company. No one wants to be the odd man out, the discordant note. Most human beings want to go with the crowd. Thus, the exhortation in Deuteronomy -

 

Exo_23:2  Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou bear witness in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to pervert justice;

 

God, who knows everything, tells His people not to follow the crowd when the crowd does what is wrong. He knows the tendency of Man is to follow the multitude rather than walk alone. However, when it comes to obeying the LORD, it becomes necessary to make a personal, individual decision to follow His ways since not all men have faith.

 

When people congregate, and particularly when they agree on a course of action, it is hard for one person to break away. The reason is simple - the cost of walking alone is high. Many birds of "a feather,"as the saying goes, flock together. However, eagles fly alone. It is desirable to fellowship with men and women of like precious faith. Yet, when those few who travel the straight, narrow path of the LORD cannot be found, you must fly alone - like the eagle.

 

You can always tell what a person is like by the company they keep. If you know one or two of a person's friends, you will know quite a bit about the person in question. Conversely, when people such as Ezekiel walk alone, you must study and ask many questions as to what is inside him. The crowd is easier to know than the individual is. Still, we conclude through inference those whose feathers are of the same color and plumage are the same bird. This was the case in the history of the Jews during the preaching of Ezekiel.

 

From the prince to the priest - including the prophet, they were all corrupt. Further, they endorsed and encouraged each other in their ungodliness and unrighteousness. Yet, when the Chaldeans burned and broke down their cities and finally took Jerusalem, as the Jews went to the sword, famine, and slavery the "vain visions" of the false prophets did not help. From this, you can learn a powerful lesson. One that will protect you in the days to come as Christ draws near to judge to the living and the dead. Keep in mind - Christ will judge you, not the crowd.

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "SHEEP MUST FOLLOW THE SHEPHERD NOT THE HERD"

 

As mentioned previously, the Church is corrupt. This is nothing new. We read of the apostasy of the ancient [and modern] Jews and we read of the heresies, immorality, and departure from the Faith of Christ in the letters of the Apostles. Christ spoke of corruption in the Church. Granted, it is not what we expect. Yet, it is a fact of the Bible and history. The people of God, called by His Name, have a measure of depravity in their midst. It has always been so. Even Jesus had a Judas.

 

Thus, the LORD exhorts you to "look unto Jesus." Only He is dependable and sinless. Further, as God, He never changes. Therefore, He guarantees you security when you [decide to] fix your gaze on Christ and mimic Him. All else, is sinking sand.

 

Heb_12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

As we approach the Coming of Christ, false Christ's and false prophets will multiply. You will find them in every denomination and fellowship. Christ told us this. However, Christ also told us the elect would not be deceived.

 

Mat_24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. [Note: "if it were possible"]

 

A perverse version of the origin message and deeds of the Book of Acts will lead many into perdition and destruction. Remember, false prophets can work signs and wonders. God ordains this to test your faith since false prophets, while "getting results" [at least in some cases] at the same time promote adherence to strange gods and perverse doctrinal aberrations.

 

Deu 13:1  If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, Deu 13:2  And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Deu 13:3  Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

 

Cling to Christ, and follow Him. Many deceivers are among you today as in the days of Ezekiel. They have "conspired" to assemble and support each other in their wickedness. Come out from among them, and God will be a Father unto you and you will never want for help, happiness, comfort, peace, or provision. Christ knows His own sheep and calls them by name. Christ's sheep know His voice as well, and another - they will not follow.