Corona Devo 2015

I have a friend that doesn't live too far from me, and while I don't know her that well, we have raised our families among each other.

We are friends, but we also differ on a number of life-stances, including God.  I am for (Him), and she is against (Him).  It would be fair to say that if you and I (as Believers) are natives with God and His ways...she is a foreigner.

However, God reminds us today of how He feels about those who might be foreigners to Him.  

(Here's a hint: Think back to when we were foreigners to God...do we know how he felt about us?  

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  ~Romans 5:8

God loved us and He sent His Son to die for our sins before we knew Him.  God extended His mercy and blessing to us when we were foreigners to Him...and He waited for us to accept.  

He still does that today.  
God perpetually (until their time/lives run out) gives foreigners the option and blessing of knowing Him and (anytime He wants to)...God can provide blessings to foreigners.
  
Why?

Because God's the boss--that's why.  And He says as much in His Word: "I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!" (Ezekiel 47:23).

~~~

In a vision to the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord said that He would divide a certain area of land among the tribes of Israel, and in that land-parceling, He included the foreigners that had joined the Israelites and were raising their families among them.  God also clarified (and mandated) that the foreigners would "be like native-born Israelites to you and (would) receive an allotment among the tribes" (Ezekiel 47:22).

God knew that His people (the Israelites) might have thoughts/concerns/arguments about foreigners getting (their) land too, and that's when God said, "Because I said so!", but God's exact words were: "These foreigners are to be given land within the territory of the tribe with whom they now live. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!" (Ezekiel 47:23).

AKA...I'm the boss, that's why.

And He is. 

God is holy and powerful and all-knowing beyond anything we can discern.  If He speaks (I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!) then that is the way it's going to be, and God's way is best.

If we feel a :But...but...but...  rising up in our heart and throats about some foreigners who have joined you and are raising their families among you" the Lord hushes us with His commands today.

Treat them like (God's) family, He says.  Because God does 

“Divide the land within these boundaries among the tribes of Israel. (22) Distribute the land as an allotment for yourselves and for the foreigners who have joined you and are raising their families among you.

They will be like native-born Israelites to you and will receive an allotment among the tribes. (23) These foreigners are to be given land within the territory of the tribe with whom they now live.

I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!  ~Ezekiel 47:21-23

~~~

The Sovereign Lord has spoken.  

How can we apply what God said...to the foreigners who have joined you and are raising their families among you?

In the example that I shared earlier...I (up until today) wasn't (really) providing any sort of emotional or physical allotment to my friend that doesn't agree with me on God, even though I was aware of their situation.  But Ezekiel 47 convicted me about how God feels about this foreigner and all that do not yet know Him:  

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  ~Matthew 9:36

Then I thought about the difficult things that my friend's family is going through: a divorce, moving, job-change, school-change, life change.  And (through Ezekiel 47), I saw God's heart for them, and it broke my heart for them.  

I thought about how difficult it would be to go through all of this as an adult (like my friend and her husband).  I also (lamented) and thought about how very difficult it would be for their children to be going through all of this.  I then considered how empty it would be to go through all of this without knowing God.

~~~

God treated "the foreigners who have joined you and are raising their families among you" to the same allotments of land that He treated His children to.

Why?

Because He's the boss, that's why.  But also because He loves the foreigners just as much as those in His fold.

"I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!"  ~Ezekiel 47:23

AKA...I'm the boss, that's why, and God desires for every one of His children to come home to Him, even those who are currently foreigners who have joined you and are raising their families among you.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. (9) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  ~2 Peter 3:8-9

I took some time.  I did some things.  I made an effort...to provide an allotment for the foreigners who have joined (me) and are raising their families among (me and my family).

Why?

Because it's what God does.

Are there foreigners who have joined you and are raising their families among you?  Are they due an allotment (says the Lord)?  

Then let's ask the Lord (and search our hearts) about how we can take part in distributing God's allotment to them? 

Blessings, 

Sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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