November 21-22


“This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell face-down” - Ezekiel 1:28


At times life seems full of tough challenges, our hearts sink as we reach for a friend to offer us encouragement. Three men in the Bible knew how that felt, and longed to look into the eyes of God. God granted this, and the sight dropped them to their knees.


Ezekiel was at the start of his ministry, and his experience of meeting God face-to-face left him groping for words. When he did speak, falling face-down he described what he saw as having “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” What was God's reaction?  He immediately gave Ezekiel the strength he needed to walk the difficult road ahead of him.  Note, God's reply in this case was immediate - although there are times in our lives that God, in His wisdom, will say "Wait."


Daniel (Daniel 10:4-12) and the apostle John (Revelation 1:10-19) each had similar experiences. One single glimpse of God's face gave them all the strength and encouragement they needed for the completion of the Lord's plan for their lives. All three men learned from experience that God would continue to keep them close to His heart (Isaiah 40:11). What a remarkable example they left us.


Centuries later Jesus began His earthly ministry, extending His hand to those in need of help – eyes full of love and compassion He offered, and still offers, life abundant and joyful, for here and in eternity.


Dave Dravecky learned from personal experience that God is just as available to us today. Dave was a Major League pitcher in an American base-ball team, when he was diagnosed with cancer. As a result his left arm was amputated – a devastating loss that brought an end to his career. Prayer got him through the ordeal – prayer times when he would look into the eyes of Jesus and gain strength for the long days and years of struggle that lay ahead.


Dave offers us this advice. 'When we feel vulnerable and uncertain, we can always pray for God's help in:


  • Allowing Him to instruct us

  • Trusting Him to lead us

  • Resisting the temptation to “go it alone”

  • Rejecting the lure of self-pity

  • Resting in God's strength rather than our own.


The Bible assures us that the God who heard the prayers of Ezekiel, Daniel, John, and Dave, will certainly hear us as well.


“(Daniel went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened towards Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” - Daniel 6:10.

Our song today is, “Father's Eyes” - Amy Grant. Click on the picture of Dave to listen.



       



     Housekeeping details for you

     The point of this short blog will become clear if you decide to use this reading in the way we intend it. Netherfield Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in healthy churches. You can see what that means if you head to the relevant Healthy Churches page of the website. We also want other churches to be healthy. That means you can join in our campaign to create healthy churches, with healthy people serving the people in those churches.

     A healthy church is one where Jesus comes first. A healthy church is one where the people work together to put Jesus first. One thing we are doing is to join people together to spread that news. I would like you to look at our prayer partners page. This will explain how we want you to use this short devotional. Very basically we want you to find a like-minded Christian friend who you will join with to : choose to pray together every day, decide together on a way to serve other people together, to help them grow as Christians - and to invite the Holy Spirit into your life every day. This blog that you will receive every day simply gives a common spiritual purpose. If you are a newcomer and want to join the blog with this object in mind click here