Ezekiel 1, Song of Solomon 1, Matthew 23: 13-39

What God said to me – Be careful when you say “I would never” because the odds are that you someday will.  The scribes and Pharisees in their self-righteousness, looking back at their ancestors who persecuted and killed My prophets said, “if we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.”  Yet they were the ones who crucified My Son and scourged and persecuted My disciples from city to city.  There is a reason I said that pride goes before the fall.  Don’t set yourself up for failure or attack by the enemy by saying “I would never.”  Remember anyone can fail or fall so learn to walk humbly with Me each day, depending on and obeying My Spirit.  When you do this as your lifestyle, seeking Me each day – each moment – the odds of succumbing to temptation go down exponentially so don’t neglect this time.

2 Chronicles 36, Ecclesiastes 12, Matthew 23:1-28

What God said to me – The scribes and Pharisees seemed to everyone who saw them to have it all together.  Publicly they seemed to be great servants of Mine – always saying and doing the right thing.  Their lives and their service seemed perfect and yet they were hypocrites.  Their private lives were nothing like the show they put on publicly.  Their thoughts and their motives were self-centered and ungodly and the things they said and did that seemed to be in service of Me were done to gain the praise of people and not Me.  Their hypocritical service did more damage than good and actually blocked people from me rather than drawing them.  People don’t want or need to see someone perfect – they need to see someone genuine – someone who is open about their struggles and how I enable them to overcome or how I forgive them when they fail.  False displays of perfection only serve to discourage people who realize they have no hope of being perfect.  Strive to be genuine in your walk so the people I bring across your path will be drawn to the God who helps you and forgives you and transforms you.

2 Chronicles 35, Ecclesiastes 11, Matthew 22: 23-46

What God said to me – My word is deep and complex and has many levels that are only understood by spending much time and study.  The scribes and Pharisees knew the surface facts and truths and most of them prided themselves with that and went no further – they had no desire to actually know Me and learn about Me and what I revealed about Myself through My word.  When I asked them a simple question, they were able to respond with a surface fact, but when I probed further into the truth, they were at a loss and quit asking questions.  Don’t be like them.  Always strive to go deeper, asking questions, studying and meditating and wrestling until you begin to have an understanding.  Diving into My word in study and meditation and struggling to gain true understanding is how you come to know Me in a deeper, more meaningful, and real way.  Don’t stop or pass over a scripture because you don’t get it – dig in and let Me teach you.