Scripture: Ezekiel 16:15
“But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his.
Observation: Here Ezekiel is sharing what he has heard from the Lord. The Lord is angry with Jerusalem for serving false gods and other nations. He is angry that they are living for false things rather than the one true God. And in doing so, they are de-valuing their own gifts given by God.
Application: Perhaps this verse is telling us to examine our ways and our motives. Do I do things for others so that I, in turn, can get what I want (as a prostitute would)? Or am I doing things because I am commanded to serve others, in turn serving the Lord, the one true God, by doing as he has asked? What is my motivation for helping others? What is my motivation for all the things I do. Who or what am I serving through my actions?
Prayer: Lord, I haven’t even finished my daily reading, but this struck me. I know I have done things for people solely for the hope that they will do something for me. Ouch! That is wrong! Thank you for guiding me away from that and thank you for this reminder today that I must continue to change my ways, serving you rather than using others and serving myself.
Leave a Reply