SWHW Bible Reading Plan: August 2021Sample

Top Takeaway from Joni Stepp:

These chapters of correction and truth are not easy to read.

You probably don’t have any verses from these chapters stitched on a pillow in your office.

But I find one part particularly convicting in my own heart. God tells the people of Israel all that He’d given them and done for them using the metaphor of a wife and how she’d used it to serve herself and other men/gods:

“You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and with them played the whore.” Ezekiel‬ ‭16:17‬ ‭

The people of Israel took the blessings, gifts, and goodness given to them by God and used them to worship other gods, bow to other things, flirt with evil, and exalt themselves.

It even says :

“But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore …”  Ezekiel‬ ‭16:15‬a

They took the gifts and blessings of God and trusted in themselves, not God.

Ouch.

I read that and think, have I done that, God? Is there any place I am doing that now?  Taking the good gift of God and using it for my exaltation?

Am I trusting in myself as the ruler of my life?

Am I bowing down to other gods with the gifts He gave me?

Am I bowing to my career with the abilities He gave me?

Am I trying to keep up with the Joneses with the blessing He gave me? 

Am I worshiping at the altar of self with the good gifts He gave me? 

And if so, then I’m trusting myself, and I’m doing no different than the Israelite people.

Convicting.

I never want to use God's good and kind gifts and blessings to turn around and serve a lesser, false god.

I read this and repented where I needed to and have committed to being conscious of how I align my affections and how I use my gifts.

Father, we ask that the Holy Spirit illuminate anywhere in our hearts where we are serving lesser things with the good gifts from You. We repent of bowing to anything less than the mighty name of the Lord. We will exalt only You. Amen.