Ezekiel 18 talks about how all souls belong to God and will be judged for iniquity or righteousness, based on how they have lived their life. In particular, the use of the word “get” in “get a new heart” captures my attention, because it suggests not using our current heart, but acquiring a new one. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!” These two verses show us that God does not want to see us die. However, it has been set that the wicked will die and the righteous will live, and God calls us to live. Therefore, we have to be righteous, to turn from our iniquities, because every soul will be judged for their own actions and lives, and cannot live or die by another’s righteousness or wickedness. This means we have to take responsibility for how we choose to live. 9 If he has walked in My statutes And kept My judgments faithfully— He is just; He shall surely live!” Says the Lord God. We ought to live like verse 9 says. This means we have to have love too. 1 Corinthians 13 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [ ]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. May God guide us to live faithfully by God’s word so that we will surely live.

Ezekiel 17 talks about how God will save Israel and raise Israel up, while God will bring Babylon down. The last verse: 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the Lord, have spoken and have done it. ” reminds me of another verse: James 4 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” which also relates to this verse: Proverbs 16 18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before [ ]a fall. 19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the [ ]spoil with the proud. These verses show us that God delights in humility and will exalt the lowly, but those who are proud will be humbled by their fall, or perhaps by God. We can see that being proud is not an admirable quality to have and God also resists the proud, hence there is no reason to be proud. However, as humans, it can happen that we become proud due to different reasons, and these reasons point to our bruised inner world and how we are comparing ourselves to others, or exalting our own selves. Comparison with others also means one is judging them, and when one thinks of oneself as better than others, it is like this verse says: Matthew 7 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Being blind to one's own weaknesses, one cannot even see others clearly. Matthew 7 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. When the plank is removed and one’s vision is restored, one can see the beauty in others and their strengths. Therefore, this chapter reminds us of lowliness and humility in our lives.

我们应该让神接着我们把祂的话传给他人，让神把我们建立为基督精兵

我們在神面前靠自己的力量是站不起来的，但神的灵要进入我们里面使我们有力量站起来，承担神的使命。

Like the four living creatures, may we radiate the fullness of God’s glory in our souls.

While the prodigal son remains wayward and lost, it is not a time to gloat, standoffish or reject, but rather share the same heart as our Father, who pines longingly for the lost to come to their senses and to return.  

Matthew 26 records Jesus’ last moments on the earth. As time was running out, we could see how different people used this chance. Firstly, we read about the group of betrayers who were plotting on how to kill Jesus (v3-5, 14). This group also includes Judas who did not take his chance to repent, even when Jesus had already acknowledged that it was Judas who was going to betray Him (v25). Next, we read about Mary who used the alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil to annoint Jesus’ head. Despite the disciples’ criticisms towards her, she actually received commendations from the Lord Jesus Christ for taking her chance to pour the fragrant oil on His body, for His burial (v12). Furthermore, as we read this chapter, we can testify how her good work is indeed told as a memorial wherever the gospel is preached (v13). Lastly, we also read about how the disciples fled when Jesus was captured. This included Peter who then wept bitterly when he realized how he had denied Jesus. Earlier on, Peter confidently claimed that “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble” (v33). However, in his weaknesses, Peter failed to showcase his faith during Jesus’ last moment on earth. How about us today? As the signs of the end times are becoming more and more obvious, how have we been using our time? Let us be prudent and not be caught off guard.

If we’re serious about reaching the kingdom of heaven, this chapter has three crucial behaviours that it warns us against.