Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “The Glory of His Appearing” – Monday, 26 May 2014 - Scripture: Ezekiel 1:1-9

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “The Glory of His Appearing” – Monday, 26 May 2014 - Scripture: Ezekiel 1:1 Now in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.[a] 2 In the fifth of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity, 3 Yahweh’s[b] word came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and Yahweh’s hand was there on him. 4 I looked, and behold,[c] a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of the middle of it as it were glowing metal, out of the middle of the fire. 5 Out of its center came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. 6 Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings. 7 Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass. 8 They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and the four of them had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings were joined to one another; they didn’t turn when they went; each one went straight forward.
Footnotes:
a. Ezekiel 1:1 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
b. Ezekiel 1:3 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.
c. Ezekiel 1:4 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
“The Glory of His Appearing” by Duane C. Brush
God reveals himself in creative and stunning ways. To Abram, He appeared as a smoking firepot and torch (Genesis 15:17). To Moses, God appeared in a burning bush (Exodus 3:2). God appeared to the Israelites as a pillar of cloud in the daylight, and a pillar of fire protecting and illuminating their night (Exodus 13:21). Isaiah saw the “Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). Each vision was unique and powerful. No one could encounter this God and remain the same. God was not any one of these things, they only hint at the greater reality. He was, and is, so much more.
The exiled priest, Ezekiel, has his own unique vision of God while living among the Jewish captives in Babylon. Ezekiel sees God approaching like a glowing storm surrounded by heavenly cherubim, fantastic “living creatures.” God was on the move and things would not be the same.

We often pray for God to make His presence known in our situation, our family, our church, or our society—and He will. We need not to expect, however, that our infinitely creative God will manifest His presence as before. When He does, it will be awesome, you can be certain. 

Hymn for Today:

“It’s Just Like His Great Love” by Edna R. Worrell
1. A friend I have called Jesus, Whose love is strong and true,
And never fails howe’er ’tis tried, no matter what I do;
I sinned against this love of His, but when I knelt to pray,
Confessing all my guilt to Him, the sin-clouds rolled away.
Refrain:
It’s just like Jesus to roll the clouds away,
It’s just like Jesus to keep me day by day,
It’s just like Jesus all along the way,
It’s just like His great love.
2. Sometimes when clouds of trouble bedim the sky above,
I cannot see my Savior’s face, and doubt His wondrous love;
But He, from heaven’s mercy-seat, beholding my despair,
In pity bursts the clouds between, and shows me He is there.
Refrain:
It’s just like Jesus to roll the clouds away,
It’s just like Jesus to keep me day by day,
It’s just like Jesus all along the way,
It’s just like His great love.
3. When sorrow’s clouds o’ertake me, and break upon my head,
When life seems worse than useless, and I were better dead;
I take my grief to Jesus then, nor do I go in vain,
For heav’nly hope He gives that cheers like sunshine after rain.
Refrain:
It’s just like Jesus to roll the clouds away,
It’s just like Jesus to keep me day by day,
It’s just like Jesus all along the way,
It’s just like His great love.
4. Oh, I could sing forever of Jesus’ love divine,
Of all His care and tenderness for this poor life of mine;
His love is in and over all, and wind and waves obey,
When Jesus whispers, “Peace, be still!” and rolls the clouds away. 
Refrain:
It’s just like Jesus to roll the clouds away,
It’s just like Jesus to keep me day by day,
It’s just like Jesus all along the way,
It’s just like His great love.
Thought for Today:
“Seeing God for who He is should give us courage to serve Him even in the midst of opposition”(Session Truth).
Prayer Needs:
Many people in Angola will come to know Jesus the Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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