Ezekiel 17 talks about how God will save Israel and raise Israel up, while God will bring Babylon down. The last verse: 24 reminds me of another verse: James 4 6 “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” which also relates to this verse: Proverbs 16 18 And a haughty spirit before [ 19 Than to divide the [ 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 Being blind to one's own weaknesses, one cannot even see others clearly. Matthew 7 4 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.

Mathhew 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.

Lamentations 1: Consider your destiny, consider your heart The Book of Lamentations consists of a series of grief-filled poems mourning the finality of Jerusalem’s losses. They also seek comfort for these sorrows and hope in God’s mercy. The first chapter describes Jerusalem’s catastrophic invasion by personifying Jerusalem as a woman. Here, she bitterly weeps for having fallen from the status of a princess to that of a lonesome slave, mocked by her enemies and punished by God (Lamentations 1:1-3). Woven in this sorrowful song is a line that reveals the erroneous mindset catalyzing her downfall: Did the people of Judah know what their destiny was for sinning so relentlessly, though?、 Surely, they did.  The destiny for those mired deeply and unrepentantly in sin was written explicitly in God’s law (Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28). God had also sent prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah to warn the people, for These prophets furiously and urgently implored the people to restore their broken relationship with God—to change their destiny. Yet they did not. We too should know what destiny awaits us, depending on what lives we choose to live. For one, those who do the will of God can enter the kingdom of heaven, while those who do not do the will of God cannot enter in (Matthew 7:21-23).  In addition to considering our destiny, we must consider our heart. What stopped the people from transforming their lives in righteousness was unbelief.  In the history of God’s people, this is not new. Those wandering in the wilderness who failed to enter the Promised Land “could not enter in because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:18-19).  We too must consider our hearts, for fear that we too have an evil heart of unbelief (Hebrews 3:12).  The medicine an unbelieving heart needs is humility and sincerity towards God. Our kind God has promised to give us a heart of flesh in place of a heart of stone, so that with the help of His Holy Spirit, we can deepen our faith and walk in His ways (Ezekiel 36:26-28). As we consider our destiny, we pray for God to soften our hearts and to help our unbelief. Then, with a true heart of sincerity, we can transform our lives with godliness and march onward to our heavenly destiny.