O God, do not keep silence;
    do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
    those who hate you have raised their heads.
3 They lay crafty plans against your people;
    they consult together against your treasured ones.
4 They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
    let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”

5 For they conspire with one accord;
    against you they make a covenant--
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
    Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
    Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Asshur also has joined them;
    they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah
9 Do to them as you did to Midian,
    as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
10 who were destroyed at En-dor,
    who became dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
    all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves
    of the pastures of God.”
 
13 O my God, make them like whirling dust,
    like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest,
    as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so may you pursue them with your tempest
    and terrify them with your hurricane!

16 Fill their faces with shame,
    that they may seek your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;
    let them perish in disgrace,
18 that they may know that you alone,
    whose name is the Lord,
    are the Most High over all the earth.
 
Meditation
God’s word orients the eyes of your heart to His final victory, a demonstration of His authority over all people (even His enemies). Philippians 2:10-11 says, “every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”  Revelation 1:7 speaks of the return of Jesus on clouds, “every eye will see Him…” God is King and when He returns winter will turn to spring, death to life, and difficulty to victory.
 
The situation for the Psalmist is bleak- surrounded by enemies who are looking to devour and destroy God’s people.  You cannot help but think of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20, surrounded by enemies the king prays, “Lord we know not what to do but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12). Then the people sing and see the deliverance only God can bring, pointing to the trajectory of Scripture and God’s story of victory.
 
God will demonstrate His rule and reign over all people.  All people will see our King return in victory! And they will acknowledge He is Lord, seeking refuge in His name. God alone is “the Most High over all the earth”(18).  God wants the eyes of our hearts to see the good news of heaven over and above the difficulty and discouragement of a world where it seams like evil will win.
 
Lord, we believe. Help us see your victory! We know not what to do- Our eyes are upon you!
 
Richly Dwelling
-Does it seem like darkness and discouragement are prevailing? Where do you look when the situations of this world overwhelm? Where are the eyes of your heart?
 
-Does the end of the story strengthen your hope today?
 
-Take time now to pray for those in your life that need to seek God’s name and come to know Him. May the Lord make His name great among all peoples and nations!
 
Key Verse
16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O Lord.

The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, propound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel; 3 say, Thus says the Lord God: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.4 He broke off the topmost of its young twigs and carried it to a land of trade and set it in a city of merchants.5 Then he took of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside abundant waters. He set it like a willow twig, 6 and it sprouted and became a low spreading vine, and its branches turned toward him, and its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out boughs.
7 “And there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage, and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him and shot forth its branches toward him from the bed where it was planted, that he might water it. 8 It had been planted on good soil by abundant waters, that it might produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble vine.
9 “Say, Thus says the Lord God: Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers, so that all its fresh sprouting leaves wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it from its roots.10 Behold, it is planted; will it thrive? Will it not utterly wither when the east wind strikes it—wither away on the bed where it sprouted?”
11 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Say now to the rebellious house, Do you not know what these things mean? Tell them, behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took her king and her princes and brought them to him to Babylon. 13 And he took one of the royal offspring and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath (the chief men of the land he had taken away), 14 that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and keep his covenant that it might stand. 15 But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape?
16 “As I live, declares the Lord God, surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant with him he broke, in Babylon he shall die. 17 Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in war, when mounds are cast up and siege walls built to cut off many lives. 18 He despised the oath in breaking the covenant, and behold, he gave his hand and did all these things; he shall not escape. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely it is my oath that he despised, and my covenant that he broke. I will return it upon his head. 20 I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon and enter into judgment with him there for the treachery he has committed against me.21 And all the pick of his troops shall fall by the sword, and the survivors shall be scattered to every wind, and you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken.”
22 Thus says the Lord God: “I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.”
 
Meditation
Jesus is King. The kingdom of God begins small and will grow to bless all peoples and nations. Jesus says the Kingdom of God begins like a mustard seed and grows to provide rest for the birds of the air (Mark 4:30-32). Ezekiel’s allegory promises the same for every kind of bird.  These truths build on one another: God is king and He will restore His people to bless all nations. We can hope in Him!

God provides salvation to all who believe, bringing hope for every nation. God Himself is our hope, the only source of restoration and fruitfulness (22-24). Kings and countries of the earth (eagles in the allegory) are nothing compared to the Lord!

Empires rise and fall but the Kingdom of God is eternal, a promise of salvation from the devastation for all who believe. Birds and trees represent every kind of person in the world- anyone and everyone is invited to hope in God for salvation, restoration and blessing.

The history behind the allegory is captured in 2 Kings 25 and is a springboard for hope in a God who saves. The gospel of Jesus Christ historically transplants us into the kingdom of God’s beloved son, through whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:12-14). Do you have the hope of God in your heart?

King Jesus rules and His Kingdom never ends. Jesus wants to provide shade and rest for you as He does the birds of the air. Will you trust His rule and reign?

Richly Dwelling
-Hope is rooted in history because God historically established hope through the true King, Jesus Christ, and His finished work. Do you rejoice under the rule and reign of King Jesus?

-Our hearts find refuge and refreshment in kingdoms of the world, fake empires whose promises are empty. What do you need to turn FROM to return TO the rule of King Jesus? Grace is the ground from which you walk- trust His love and return.

-Every kind of bird and tree, people from all nations and tribes, will find refuge in the rule of God. This is an exciting mission to be a part of! What is your highest and best role to participate in King Jesus’ mission to bless the nations?

Key Verse
23 On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.”5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”
So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”
8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.12 Are not Abana[c] and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Gehazi's Greed and Punishment15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.”16 But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord. 18 In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” 19 He said to him, “Go in peace.”
But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance,20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”21 So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” 22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’” 23 And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. 24 And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. 25 He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.”26 But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.

​Meditation
God’s heart is to heal. Heaven’s hope for the healing of all nations (Revelation 22:2) empowers hope in our world with very sick nations! God’s sovereign grace invites us to participate in His redemptive work of healing nations.
 
Jesus refers to Namaan  (Luke 4:27) to teach about God’s heart to heal the nations. Jesus’ audience rejected Jesus and His teaching, but in the story the faithful servant girl embraced her role, pointing the gentile general to the word of God. The king of Israel did not understand. Elisha knew God had a plan. God chose Israel to bless all nations (Genesis 12:1-3), so healing Namaan made sense.
 
God’s healing evokes worship. Namaan declares there is “no God in all the earth but in Israel” (15) before he asks for some dirt to offer burnt offerings. This is a foretaste of another window we have into eternity when every nation will worship the Lamb (Revelation 7:9). Namaan washed with water. We are washed in the blood of Jesus. Faith is the key to cleansing and healing! Worship is the fruit. Salvation belongs to our God!
 
As Namaan returns to Syria we discover Gehazi lying to Elisha and robbing the general (20-24). Why is this included? Because we need to see that all need to be cleansed, we don’t choose who God’s grace does or doesn’t apply to. God’s sovereign grace that cleansed Namaan offers us cleansing too. We confess our sins to experience being cleansed (1 John 1:9).  God’s sovereign grace heals so that our hearts can worship the Lord of all nations.
 
 
Richly Dwelling
-God’s people have not historically been comfortable with God’s heart to heal all nations. Jonah rejected the reality and Jesus’ original audience did too. How about you- Does your life reveal a heart to celebrate God’s mission to bring healing to all nations?
 
-Faith is the key to healing and hope. Namaan believed. The servant girl from Israel believed. Elisha believed… do you? Take a moment to receive the cleansing offered by Christ, receiving forgiveness for your sins. Pray. Repent. Believe. Be free!
 
-Where do you see the need for healing and hope among the nations today? How can you participate in God’s redemptive restoration?
 
 
Key Verse
15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.”

The Lord said to Moses, “Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give it.’2 I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
4 When the people heard this disastrous word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you.’”6 Therefore the people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward.
The Tent of Meeting7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. 9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord[a]would speak with Moses. 10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. 11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
Moses' Intercession12 Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”
17 And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

Meditation
God wants to meet with you.

God’s grace commits to keep God’s presence with His people because relationship is central to redemption. Moses designates the prospect of not having God’s presence as a “disastrous word” (4)! Moses meeting with God (7) is a window into how God’s gracious presence restores a rebellious people.

God met with Moses through the glory cloud (9, 10), speaking to Moses face to face as you speak to a friend (11). God meets with us through Jesus Christ. Meeting with God has (at least) four components:

Revelation: God reveals His character and His work. God is good. God has redeemed. Moses wants more glory (17) and we will, too, when we taste His goodness.

Affirmation:God reminds Moses of His love saying, “you have found favor in my sight… I know your name” (12, 17). God affirms us through Christ!

Intercession:From a place of security in God’s covenant presence intercession can happen on behalf of God’s people and God’s world. We will ask God to show Himself and affirm others as He has for us in personal relationship.

Sanctification & Glorification: Through personal time with God, Moses (literally) reflects God’s glory (34:34). God wants you to reflect Him, too.

Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3) offering the ultimate affirmation of God, opportunity to be children of God (Romans 8:15). Jesus intercedes (Romans 8:34) and is making us more like Him, too (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Jesus says, “Come to Me…”because God wants to meet with you!
 
Richly Dwelling
-How do you respond to God’s invitation in Christ, “come to Me as I want to meet with you…”?
 
-Which part of meeting with God is most inviting- revelation, affirmation, intercession, sanctification/ glorification? Why?
 
-Focus on Jesus Christ. Settle yourself in the affirmation of God’s love. Listen to His revelation. Trust His intercession. Ask Him to make you more like Him!
 
Key Verse
7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is[a]that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Prayer for Spiritual Strength
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Meditation
God’s grace and love is at work within us so than it can overflow through us.

I love the story of Ruth, a devastated widow living as a refugee widow in Bethlehem. Central to Ruth’s story is the extravagant provision of Boaz who provided “until she was satisfied and she had some leftover” (Ruth 2:14). The abundance was shared with Naomi, also satisfied from leftovers. Ruth received more abundantly than she could have asked!

Paul uses the highest form of comparison to describe the extravagance of God’s grace and love when he prays for the church (20). The extravagant love of Christ dwells in our hearts that we may be filled with the fullness of God (14-21)- overflowing to bless others and glorify His name.
 
Paul’s prayer is an overflow, a prisoner for Christ (1) suffering for the saints (13). God’s grace was given to Paul (2, 7) who considers himself the least of all the saints (8). This grace overflows through proclaiming the mystery of the gospel (3, 4, 6, 9), namely that God’s salvation plan is designed to overflow through the church to all nations (6).  Through the church the wisdom of God is made known to all powers in the world (10)! The Church will be satisfied and unified in the love of Jesus to overflow with His love to all nations! 
 
God desires to do more than you can ask or imagine through His power at work within you, overflowing as He shares His grace through you!
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you believe God desires to do far more abundantly than you ask or think? Why or why not?
 
-God provided for Paul in prison, to overflow for the saints. God provides for the church, to overflow for the nations. God provides for you, according to the power at work in us, so that His grace and love can show through us. Are you satisfied in the Gospel to overflow and share the Gospel? What are competing affections of your heart?
 
-Take time to pray verses 14-21 for yourself, your family, and your church.
 
Key Verse
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

When I restore the fortunes of my people, when I would heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim is revealed, and the evil deeds of Samaria, for they deal falsely; the thief breaks in, and the bandits raid outside. 2 But they do not consider that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds surround them; they are before my face. 3 By their evil they make the king glad, and the princes by their treachery. 4 They are all adulterers; they are like a heated oven whose baker ceases to stir the fire, from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.

5 On the day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with mockers. 6 For with hearts like an oven they approach their intrigue; all night their anger smolders; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire. 7 All of them are hot as an oven, and they devour their rulers. All their kings have fallen, and none of them calls upon me.
 
8 Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
9 Strangers devour his strength, and he knows it not; gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, and he knows it not. 10 The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him, for all this. 11 Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria.

12 As they go, I will spread over them my net; I will bring them down like birds of the heavens; I will discipline them according to the report made to their congregation. 13 Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against me. 14 They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves; they rebel against me.

15 Although I trained and strengthened their arms, yet they devise evil against me. 16 They return, but not upward; they are like a treacherous bow; their princes shall fall by the sword because of the insolence of their tongue! This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt
 
Meditation
The love of God opens the door for us to return to wholehearted relationship with God. Our heart’s affection hinders us from returning.  Revelation 3:15-20 refers to half-hearted returning to God as “lukewarm” faith. Hosea describes it in several ways that highlight a faith ignored and not cultivated (8-11). The desire of God’s heart is for us to return with our whole hearts, rich affection for Him alone.
 
God is a groom waiting for His bride, ready for His people to come to Him. Thieves and bandits have stolen Israel’s affection (1-2) and the parable of the oven (3-14) reveals internal and external symptoms of lukewarm faith. Internally there is wickedness. Externally they trust Egypt as much as God.
 
The heart problem (14) is an issue of affection. God loved His people as a parent loves their child, training and strengthening them (15; 11:1). Israel rejected God’s love for the love of idols and put their trust in other nations. When they returned it was “not upward,” not to the love of the Most High God (16). How can affections grow for God with hearts sick with idolatry and trust issues?
 
Grace alone grows our affections for God. We want to return to Him, to love Him with all of our heart, but we can’t. Our hearts are sinful. And we need a Savior! Only trusting the unconditional love of Jesus will heat our hearts, fully transforming our faith, and removing the lukewarm tendencies of our souls.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Who or what holds the affection of your heart? What do you spend most time thinking about, worrying about, or dreaming about? What is the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you think about before going to bed at night?
 
-Are you intimidated that God rejects lukewarm faith? Jesus says we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24) but we sure try!
 
-Grace alone is the ground where affections for God can grow. Honesty with the distractions of our hearts and the sin of our lives is the first step to knowing the depth of God’s love for us. While we were His enemies Christ died for us! And this grace alone will grow affection for God. Take time to focus on God’s grace and allow His love to form your heart.
 
Key Verse
8 Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned…. 16 They return, but not upward…
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