2023_12_15 Insight Post- Mario Colorado
This week’s reading- Ezekiel 36, Ephesians 2, Ezekiel 43, Hebrews 8
In this week’s reading of Ezekiel 36, God has commanded His prophet to prophecy to the mountains. Although this seems a little strange, the point is that God is addressing the enemy nations of Israel who taunt them for believing that they were in control of the land that was promised to the Israelites. This is a reminder that God will not accept contempt and will deal according to His will and timing. Furthermore, by addressing the mountains, God signals that He has not forgotten His chosen people despite them no longer being in their promised land. God promises that the land will produce fruit despite being barren and the land will be a blessing God’s anointed people. It underscores that God always delivers on His promises.
In the second part, we find imagery related to Israel as the bride of God used to highlight how the Israelites have failed God by adopting practices that do not honor Him and His holy name. It reminds us how serious we are to treat the name of our God and Savior. This reading instantly reminds me of Philippians 2: 1-11, which was part of an extensive research paper I completed earlier this week. Verse 9-11 reads, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (ESV). The point is that we are to use God’s name to honor Him in everything we do.
The most delightful and joyful element of Ezekiel 36 is the appearance of the Holy Spirit, who, despite not being frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, is eternally at work in the lives of those faithful to God. Verses 25-27 reads, “I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” When I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit working in and around my life, I do my best to acknowledge my love for Him and remind myself that He is my best friend.
Ezekiel 43 describes the prophet’s vision of the glory of God returning to the temple in Jerusalem with the Divine Presence entering the temple from the east, accompanied by a radiant light. There is a lot of mystical imagery in Ezekiel through his vision during these passages. This should encourage all of us to prioritize the presence of God in our lives and communities, prompting us to create an environment of holiness and reverence for God’s glory. We are again reminded of the importance of God’s holy name, repentance, obedience to God’s commands, and a commitment to righteous living. Practically, this can happen through sincere worship, loving everyone, and a dedication to serving God.
Ephesians 2 is a chapter that profoundly resonates with me. Paul reminds the Ephesians of how their desires and behaviors sank them all to death. Verse 1 and 2 opens with a powerful gut punch, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins, in which you once walked, following the course of this world.” For me, it is a reminder of how dead I was without Jesus in my life. Rusty has often highlighted the “not getting what we deserve” theme these last few months.
Paul wrote, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-6. My takeaway is the transformative power of God’s grace in reconciling humanity to Himself. This involves recognizing my dependence on God’s mercy for salvation and responding with gratitude. Paul reminds us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. Ephesians 2 should be a reminder to all of us that good works are a natural outflow of faith in God. It calls for us to lead a life marked by love, grace, and a commitment to building a community that reflects God’s reconciling work.
Hebrews 8 involves recognizing the significance of Jesus as the mediator of a new and superior covenant. We can draw inspiration from this chapter to deepen our understanding of the grace, forgiveness, and direct access to God offered through Christ and the Holy Spirit. For me, these passages nudge me to feel gratitude and a desire for a more intimate relationship with God. My appreciation of God’s mercy and grace always allows for a deeper connection with the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 8 should point us to live in light of the new covenant that embraces the power of God’s promises. This includes daily reliance on Christ’s priesthood for forgiveness, a commitment to live according to God’s ways, sharing the new covenant (gospel) message with others, and inviting the Holy Spirit to guide our lives to bring us peace.
Mario Colorado
Small Group Leader and Seminary Student