Ezekiel 20:37-38

When we come to the end of ourself, giving up our perceived control, and place it  into the loving hands of our Father, we can find rest. 

All of creation resides in God’s hands. Out of His great love for His creation He has given up the life of His only begotten Son Jesus, so that any person that accepts His gift of salvation…can enter into His rest. 

In the New Covenant it not about our righteousness but everything to do with the righteousness of Jesus Christ who died in our place.

All of this rest on our free will. We always have the final say. 

God wanted a people who come to Him out of of love, not fear, and of their own choice. Does He promise a life without trials, no, but He promises that He will never leave us alone to face them. 

He will take us as we are but in His wisdom we will be changed. He loves us that much.

On the days when it's obvious you don't measure up, remember you're living under a new covenant. Jesus promises His blood and body poured out for us are enough to bridge the gap, made by our sin, between us and the Father. The good news of Jesus is that we get to live, and give, under the perfection and completion of His promise.

Father, thank You for always having a plan to bring us back to You. Thank You for loving us so perfectly, so incomprehensibly, You became the sin offering to atone for every way we've missed the mark. You are worthy of praise, and we thank You for the new covenant, found in Christ Jesus. Remind us of it when we doubt, and help us share the Good News with others. In Jesus' name, amen. First5 

“I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16 NRSV).

This is how John the Baptist introduced his cousin to the world. Baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire? Such was the job description of Jesus. Heaven arrives packing heat. Max Lucado

Ezekiel 20:37 “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; 38 I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord. The New King James Version

Entering the land is a privilege for those who keep faith with Yahweh. Faithlife Study Bible

This is the way a shepherd counts and controls his sheep. A rod sometimes speaks of discipline, but here it is parallel to the idea of bringing you into the bond of the covenant. 

God’s lordship of His people for personal, purposeful relationship is in view. This future bonding with God will be a time when Israel is cleansed of spiritual idolaters. At that time, the people will finally know that God is the Lord. The NKJV Study Bible

Jeremiah 33:13 In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the South, in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks shall again pass under the hands of him who counts them,’ says the LORD.

Ezekiel 34:17 ‘And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats.