DRAWING NEAR
March 11
Praying for God's Glory
"O Lord, in accordance with all Thy righteous acts, let now
Thine anger and Thy wrath turn away from Thy city Jerusalem, Thy
holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our
fathers, Jerusalem and Thy people have become a reproach to all
those around us. So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Thy
servant and to his supplications, and for Thy sake, O Lord, let
Thy face shine on Thy desolate sanctuary.
"O my God, incline Thine ear and hear! Open Thine eyes and see
our desolations and the city which is called by Thy name; for we
are not presenting our supplications before Thee on account of
any merits of our own but on account of Thy great compassion. O
Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For
Thine own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Thy city and Thy
people are called by Thy name" (Dan. 9:16-19).
God's glory must be the ultimate goal of every prayer request we
make.
Someone once said, "Show me your redeemed life and I might believe in
your Redeemer." That's a fair request! As Christians, we are Christ's
ambassadors to a dying world. With His Spirit in our hearts and His
Word in our hands, we are to speak His truth in love and live a life
that lends credibility to what we say.
When we fail to do that, we dishonor God and provide ammunition for
those who seek to discredit His work. That was certainly true of
Israel. They were God's chosen people yet His name was blasphemed
among the Gentiles because of their unbelief and disobedience (Rom.
2:24).
Daniel knew Israel didn't deserve mercy, but he asked God to forgive
and restore them to their homeland for His own name's sake. Therein
would He be glorified.
When you pray according to God's will, fervently confessing your sins
and interceding for others, you're following in the godly tradition
of Daniel and every other saint who sought God's glory above all
else. May it be so today!
Suggestions for Prayer:
Pray for the nation of Israel, that God might redeem many Jewish
people for His name's sake (cf. Rom. 10:1).
For Further Study:
Read Ezekiel 36:16-38.
Why did God scatter Israel? Why will He regather her? How will the
Gentile nations react to her regathering?
Drawing Near, Copyright c 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Romans 2:24
For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of
you," as it is written.
Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they
may be saved.
Ezekiel 36:16-38
16 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
17 "Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land,
they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like
the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity.
18 "Therefore I poured out My fury on them for the blood they had
shed on the land, and for their idols with which they had defiled it.
19 "So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed
throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and
their deeds.
20 "When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned
My holy name; when they said of them, 'These are the people of the
LORD, and yet they have gone out of His land.'
21 "But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel
had profaned among the nations wherever they went.
22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:
"I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy
name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you
went.
23 "And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among
the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations
shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I am
hallowed in you before their eyes.
24 "For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of
all countries, and bring you into your own land.
25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean;
I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
26 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I
will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart
of flesh.
27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My
statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
28 "Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;
you shall be My people, and I will be your God.
29 "I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for
the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you.
30 "And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of
your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine
among the nations.
31 "Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were
not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your
iniquities and your abominations.
32 "Not for your sake do I do this," says the Lord GOD, "let it be
known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of
Israel!"
33 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "On the day that I cleanse you from all
your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and
the ruins shall be rebuilt.
34 "The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in
the sight of all who pass by.
35 "So they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like
the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are
now fortified and inhabited.'
36 "Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that
I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was
desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it."
37 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will also let the house of Israel
inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a
flock.
38 "Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at
Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled
with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the LORD."' "
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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