“I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.”—Ezekiel 5:13 KJV

It was a message God frequently asked the prophet Ezekiel to deliver to His people. This verse is the first of more than 20 references in the book of Ezekiel in which God wanted it known that He had spoken or acted. This was a message that demonstrated that God wanted people to know about Him. Looking ahead, four times in chapter six, God told how He would act, so “they shall know that I am the LORD” (vs. 7, 10, 13, 14). He returned to this theme throughout the book. The message was clear: God wanted His people to be aware of His presence, His concern, His standards, and His desire that they know Him. This is still a priority for God. The Bible makes clear that He wants us to be sensitive to His presence. He is the Sovereign God. He cares about us and has a plan for our lives. He does not want us to drift into sin, disobey Him, or follow the wickedness and ungodliness in the world. And He doesn’t want us to be ignorant. He wants us to know Him, trust Him, and serve Him. Today, remember that God wants to have a personal relationship with you. Yes, read and study His Word. But don’t stop there. He wants to make it a priority for you to know Him, not just to know about Him—to know Him personally and intimately.

Reflection Question: How has God made it clear that He is your Lord?

“Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.” —Proverbs 15:33 NLT

This is a holy reverence, an attitude of humility. We don’t begin by acquiring information. We gain biblical wisdom when we have the right attitude of the heart. Further, we grow in discernment when we humble ourselves before Him. Moffatt’s translation of this verse shows that “reverence” for the Lord is more than just the beginning of wisdom. It states that “reverence for the eternal trains men to be wise.” Thus, this high esteem for the Lord of our lives trains us to be wise. Properly valuing God focuses our thoughts in the right direction. Through this reverence, we become equipped to become wise. It gives us the tools and resources to grow in wisdom, including the right attitude. It leads us into a lifestyle through which we become wise. Also, it provides a platform for wise living. Reverence for God means thinking of Him first and humbling ourselves before Him. It means that we continue to hold everything we do before Him and submit to Him continually. Unfortunately, many people think of themselves first. They are self-centered and selfish. They do not honor Him. The Bible teaches that wisdom and favor come through reverence for God and willingness to submit our will to do His will. Seek to put these principles into practice. Learn the importance of reverence for God. Seek Him in all of your moments. Cooperate with Him. Ask Him for training to be wise. As you draw near to Him in humility, He will teach you.

Reflection Question: 

What choices can you make to turn your mind to reverence God and increase in wisdom?