Read Ezekiel 39:1 through 40:49
In the twenty-fifth year of our exile . . . (Ezekiel 40:1).
It is easy to miss the important message hidden in this verse. God’s prophet was not exempt from the devastation that brought Israel to its knees and led them into captivity.
I’d like to believe God’s children will escape the judgment He sends to the ungodly. But Scripture and experience teach differently. Wars take the lives of believers and nonbelievers alike. Natural disasters destroy churches as well as casinos.
During 25 years of exile, Ezekiel didn’t blame others for his troubles. Instead, he spoke comfort and hope to his people who, having suffered for their sins, desperately needed a word of comfort and hope.
That’s what God calls Christians to do—especially those who suffer tragedies alongside their neighbors. Sometimes it’s easier to share hope with those with whom we share heartache, than it is to offer solace while we remain untouched by life’s pain.
Prayer Suggestion: Lord, when I’m tempted to concentrate on my suffering, help me focus instead on the needs of others.
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