Tag: Warning

March 29, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Judgment and Mercy

Opening Verse

“Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.”
Ezekiel 5:5, KJV

Introduction

God’s Word in Ezekiel 5 is not soft. It is sharp. It is a warning. God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel using a dramatic sign—cutting and dividing hair—to show what’s about to happen to His people. Judgment is coming. Not because God delights in punishment, but because His people have rebelled beyond the nations around them. This chapter is a wake-up call for anyone who thinks God is silent about sin.

Devotional Story

A young man was raised in church. He knew the truth. But as he grew older, he began to see God’s commands as optional. He still prayed occasionally, still said “God bless you,” but his heart was far from God. He compromised with the world—just a little at first. A little lie. A little lust. A little pride.

Over time, the compromise grew. He mocked warnings from believers. He stopped reading the Word. He started justifying sin. He was convinced that God wouldn’t judge him. After all, hadn’t he once believed?

But one night, after a long season of sin, he had a vivid dream. In it, a city burned. The people screamed. The sky turned black. In the center of the chaos was a mirror, and in that mirror was his own face. He woke up trembling, realizing the Lord had given him a glimpse of what happens when mercy is rejected.

The next morning, he opened his Bible, and it fell to Ezekiel 5.

What This Means

Ezekiel 5 reminds us that God holds His people accountable. Jerusalem had been given every blessing—God’s temple, His law, His prophets. But they rebelled worse than the nations around them. So God said, “I will execute judgments in the midst of thee… and will do in thee that which I have not done” (v. 9).

This wasn’t just about Jerusalem—it’s about anyone who receives the truth and then turns from it. To know God’s will and still rebel is dangerous. Jesus said it would be more tolerable for Sodom than for those who reject Him after knowing Him.

Yet even in judgment, God sends a warning. He speaks before He strikes. Ezekiel was the trumpet. The question is: will we listen?

Think About This

Have you been ignoring the voice of God? Are you living like you’ll never stand before Him?

Ezekiel 5 is not meant to make you afraid of God—it’s meant to bring you back to Him. The God who warns is the God who forgives, if we repent. The hair in the fire was a picture of destruction, but a small portion was kept—God always preserves a remnant.

Will you be part of it?

Prayer

Father, forgive me for treating Your Word lightly. I have seen how You judge rebellion, and I do not want to be found among the unfaithful. Cleanse me. Restore my fear of You. Help me turn from anything that dishonors Your Name. I want to be part of the remnant that remains faithful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.”
Ezekiel 6:8, KJV

March 7, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

The Pride That Leads to Destruction

Opening Verse:

“The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?”
— Obadiah 1:3 (KJV)

Introduction:

Pride is one of the most deceptive sins. It blinds us to our own weaknesses and makes us believe we are untouchable. The book of Obadiah warns against the dangers of pride, particularly in how it led to the downfall of Edom. When we rely on ourselves instead of God, we set ourselves on a path to destruction.

Devotional Story:

A businessman had built an empire from the ground up. He was known for his sharp mind, strategic thinking, and relentless ambition. As his success grew, so did his pride. He boasted that his achievements were the result of his own intelligence and hard work. “No one can take this from me,” he often said.

One day, a close friend warned him, “Be careful not to forget who truly gives success. Pride goes before destruction.” The businessman scoffed at the idea. He had made it this far on his own—why would he need God now?

But one day, an unexpected economic crisis hit. His investments collapsed, his business partners withdrew, and his once-thriving empire crumbled. The very foundation he thought was unshakable proved weak. In his despair, he remembered his friend’s warning and fell to his knees. “Lord, I see now—I was deceived by my own pride. Forgive me,” he prayed.

Slowly, God restored him, not to his former wealth, but to a place of humility and trust in Him.

What This Means:

Edom was a strong nation, secure in its high places and natural defenses. Yet, God humbled them because of their arrogance. No matter how high we rise, we are still dependent on God. Pride deceives us into thinking we are invincible, but destruction follows those who exalt themselves. True security is found in humility before God.

Think About This:

  • Are there areas in your life where pride has crept in?
  • Do you acknowledge God in your successes, or do you take the credit for yourself?
  • How can you practice humility daily?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, keep my heart from the deception of pride. Let me always remember that You alone are my source and strength. Teach me to walk in humility and to give You glory in all things. Help me to trust in You rather than in my own abilities. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse:

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”
— 1 Peter 5:6 (KJV)

February 28, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

The Righteous Judge

Opening Verse

“If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.”
— Psalms 7:12 (KJV)

Introduction

God is not indifferent to sin. He is patient, but His patience is not weakness. He gives men time to repent, but if they refuse, judgment is certain. The psalmist warns that God’s sword is being sharpened, His bow is drawn. The delay of judgment is not its absence.

Devotional Story

A man was warned repeatedly about the dangers of ignoring God’s voice. He was blessed with a loving family, a stable job, and good health. Yet, he lived carelessly, indulging in sin, believing that since judgment had not come yet, it never would.

One evening, he had a dream. In it, he saw a mighty warrior sharpening a sword, its edge gleaming. The warrior turned to him and said, “This is for those who refuse to turn back.” He then saw a great bow, already drawn, an arrow ready to fly. He tried to run, but the warrior’s gaze followed him.

He woke up in a cold sweat. The fear of the Lord gripped him. That night, he repented of his sins, knowing that God had been patient with him, but that patience was not forever.

What This Means

God does not take pleasure in the destruction of the wicked, but He is just. If a person refuses to repent, they will face the consequences of their actions. The imagery of the sharpened sword and bent bow shows the urgency of repentance. The time to turn to God is now.

Think About This

  • Have you mistaken God’s patience for permission to continue in sin?
  • If the sword is sharpened and the bow is bent, what does that mean for those who delay repentance?
  • How can you warn others about the urgency of turning back to God?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that You are patient, but also just. Forgive me for the times I have ignored Your warnings. Help me to live in obedience, knowing that judgment is real, but so is Your mercy. Strengthen me to warn others, that they too may turn back before it is too late. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
— Ezekiel 33:11 (KJV)

February 12, 2024 Devotional Post a Comment

The Urgency of God’s Judgment

Opening Verse

“Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.” – Isaiah 34:1 (KJV)

Introduction

Isaiah 34 beckons everyone, near and far, to listen closely to the Lord’s declaration. It is a solemn call to witness the scope and seriousness of God’s judgment upon the nations.

Devotional Story

In a small village, there lived two friends who shared everything since childhood. One day, they found an old book in the attic, warning of a great storm that would come to their village. The first friend took the warning seriously, preparing and urging the village to do the same. The second friend, however, laughed it off, considering it an old tale with no relevance to their lives.

As the sky darkened and the first signs of the storm appeared, the villagers remembered the warning. Those who had prepared found shelter and safety, while those who had ignored the warning scrambled in fear and confusion.

What This Means

Isaiah 34 isn’t just about ancient judgments; it’s a timeless reminder of the consequences of ignoring God’s warnings. Just like the villagers who heeded the warning, we are called to listen and prepare our hearts for God’s word.

Think About This

Consider the areas in your life where you might be ignoring God’s warnings. Are there habits, attitudes, or relationships that you need to change in response to His word?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to heed Your warnings with seriousness and urgency. Give us the wisdom to prepare our hearts and lives according to Your word, so we may find safety and peace in Your promises. Amen.

Closing Verse

“For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.” – Isaiah 34:8 (KJV)