Loving Jesus Style

l An Overview of the Prophet Ezekiel’s Message and Structure Introduction The Book of Ezekiel is one of the major prophetic books in the Old Testament of the Bible. Named after its author, the prophet Ezekiel, the book recounts his visions and prophecies during the Babylonian exile, around 593–571 BCE. Ezekiel was a priest and prophet among the Jewish exiles in Babylon, and his writings blend vivid imagery, symbolic acts, and divine messages. Major Themes ·          Judgment and Condemnation: Ezekiel prophesies the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple as a result of Israel’s unfaithfulness and idolatry. He explains that these events are the outcome of the nation’s persistent sins. ·          God’s Sovereignty: The book repeatedly emphasizes that God is in control over all nations and history. Through the exile, God demonstrates His power, justice, and holiness. ·   ...

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Devotion: Grace is the heart of the good news we find in Ephesians 2:8-10. Paul reminds us that our salvation is not something we can earn; it is a gift from God, freely given through faith in Jesus Christ. This passage calls us to pause and remember that all our striving, achievements, and efforts cannot buy us a place in God’s family. Instead, it is God’s unmerited favor that welcomes us in. Grace is not a reward for good behavior, nor is it a prize for a life well lived—it is God’s loving initiative reaching out to us when we could do nothing to save ourselves. When we embrace this truth, it brings freedom from the pressure to prove ourselves or measure up to impossible standards. ...

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:3  We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Devotion: Paul’s words to the Thessalonian church resound with gratitude and encouragement. Here, he models the importance of recognizing God's work in the lives of others. As Paul writes, he’s not only expressing thanks for their existence, but for the visible signs of spiritual growth in their lives—their faith and love that are ever on the rise. This verse reminds us of the power of encouragement, the necessity of gratitude, and the beauty of Christian community. In our own lives, it’s easy to overlook the quiet progress happening within us and those around us. Sometimes we’re so focused on what needs improvement or what’s missing that we fail to notice the fruit already growing. Paul’s example beckons us to pause and reflect: Who can I thank God for today? Whose journe...

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NIV) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. Devotion: In 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, Paul draws a sharp distinction between the nature of spiritual battle and the warfare familiar to the world. Though we live in the midst of everyday life’s struggles, our fight is not against flesh and blood, nor do we use physical weapons. Instead, we are equipped with powerful spiritual tools—prayer, faith, truth, and the Word of God. These weapons are not weak or ordinary; they possess divine power, capable of demolishing strongholds that may have held us or others captive f...

Scripture: Romans 8:28-30 (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Devotion: Romans 8:28-30 stands as one of the most comforting and reassuring passages in the Bible, especially for those navigating life's uncertainties. These verses remind us that God is actively working in every circumstance for the good of those who love Him. The promise here is not that all things are good in themselves, but that God, in His sovereignty, weaves even the most difficult moments into a purposeful tapestry that leads to our ultimate good and His glory. The phrase “called according to his purpose” emphasizes that our lives are not random or ...

  An Overview of the Book of Lamentations Introduction The Book of Lamentations is a poetic and deeply emotional text found in the Old Testament of the Bible. Traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, it is composed of five chapters, each forming an individual poem or lament. The book mourns the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians and reflects on the suffering, devastation, and spiritual crisis experienced by the people of Judah. Structure and Literary Style Lamentations is structured as a series of acrostic poems, with each chapter, except the last, organized by the Hebrew alphabet. This careful arrangement highlights the completeness of grief and sorrow. The poetry is vivid, filled with imagery and metaphor, and expresses both communal and individual pain. Main Themes ·          Destruction and Suffering: The book gives a detailed description of Jerusalem’s ruin, the suffering of its people—especial...