Friday, May 15th, 2009

Friday, May 15th, 2009

Ezekiel 48:35b
And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD is there."

After the vision from God that Ezekiel gave of the temple, he gave a vision of the inheritance of land where the Israelites and the priests would dwell. This vision was set out with particular details about how long and wide it would be, where the gates would be, and where the fields would be.

God gave particular instructions for His people so that they would dwell in peace, and glorify the Lord all the more. It contained instructions on where the Levites and where the Zadokites would live. These were critical, because this is the priesthood, and as a nation, Israel was to be focused upon worshipping God and giving all praise and glory to Him.

It is extremely important here at the end of this passage that God would name the city. The name of the city is the LORD is there. God is making a proclamation that as His people follow Him, as they give themselves to Him, and as they follow His directives for how to setup their city, that He will actually dwell with them in their city. This city where God dwells with His people is the holy city, Zion.

This thought pushes me to think of Immanuel, "God with us." Truly, in Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, God dwells in me, and with me.

Though there is no holy city anymore in this New Testament era, as the prophet said earlier in 36:27, God will put His Spirit in me. With God living in me, it is even better than Him living in the city. When God lives in my heart, He goes with me no matter what city I move to.

God then is the God who lives with me and in me. This passage today pushes me to think of the power of the cross in the invasion of my soul. As Christ invades my soul, and His Spirit lives in me, I should then begin to live as Christ did. As a man who simply lives to do my Father's will. I am the child of God, and as such, my whole purpose is to do the will of my Father in heaven.

Oh Lord, praise you for your goodness and love in giving your Son for me. Praise the Lord for you are good. Your mercy and love are everlasting. What a wonderful thing it is that you live in me. Thank you for your Spirit. I pray that you would help me today to live truly as one who has the Spirit of the living God inside Him. Thank you oh Lord for your grace. In Christ, amen.