JUST FOR FUN I decided to pick a random Bible verse to reflect upon for this blog post.
I went to my iPhone and loaded my study Bible app. Then, eyes closed, I made three pokes at the screen.
One to get to the Bible book: it took me to Ezekiel.
One to get to the chapter: 24
One to get to the verse: 10.
So, here’s my devotional trigger for the day:
“Bring more wood and light it. Cook the meat and boil away the broth to let the bones scorch” (Contemporary English Version).
What’s cooking?
Dead Jews.
To discover that context, I took a look at verse 9:
“I, the Lord God, will punish that city of violence! I will make a huge pile of firewood.”
The city getting punished was Jerusalem.
That very day, Babylonian invaders from what is now Iraq had surrounded the city.
The siege would end a year and a half later. That’s when invaders, in 586 BC, leveled Jerusalem, deported most of the survivors, and wiped the Jewish nation off the political map.
So, where’s the devotional thought—the life application for today?
On my iPhone, of course.
I get alerts from one of the local news stations.
They’re really quite irritating because they ding a lot.
Here are a few of today’s dings:
- Hand grenade found in local business
- Homeowner shot chasing burglars out of house
- Police department investigates reported sexual assault of 4-year-old
- Local vice sting nets 6
- Car sideswiped, then occupants robbed
Here’s what I’m wondering.
Is my town any better than Jerusalem was?
If not, what can I do to improve our spiritual rating?
On Sunday, my Bible study class will brainstorm the possibility of helping resettle into our town a family from a refugee camp on the other side of the world.
It’s a start.
Leave a Reply