In Ezekiel 44-46, we read about the worship of God.
The emphasis is on holiness. The place of worship is described as "the
holy place" (Ezekiel 44:1). When we move into the New Testament, the
emphasis is on the people. We are to be the holy people of God - "You
are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong
to God." Why does God call us to be His holy people? - "You were chosen
to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of
darkness into His marvellous light." As we do this, there's something we
must never forget - "Once you were not God's people, but now you are.
Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy" (1
Peter 2:9-10).
"The Son of Man came to save the lost" (Matthew 18:11). In Matthew 18:12-13, Jesus speaks about sheep. He's really speaking about us. He is the Shepherd. We are His sheep. Sheep wander away from the shepherd. We wander away from the Lord. The shepherd looks for the lost sheep. Jesus has come to seek for us and find us. He brings us home to God, our Father. Through His saving grace, we receive new life - a life in which we rejoice in our great Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He delivers us from the condemnation, which our sin has brought upon us. He brings us into the knowledge of His forgiveness. This Gospel of salvation changes us. It teaches us to live in the power of God's love. Jesus speaks about "the Kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:12,23), "the Kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:14,24) and "eternal life" (Matthew 19:29). Jesus' way of thinking and living is so very different from the world's way of thinking and living. He chall...
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