Ineffective Teaching

When religious leaders mislead people with false teaching or by failing to teach them the truth, they are lying to God's people who, in their sinful nature, love to listen to such lies. But these leaders are killing people who should not die and promising life to those who should not live. (Ezekiel 13:19 & 22)

Singleness of Heart

In Ezekiel 11:19, God promises to give "singleness of heart" to people who turn or return to Him. Singleness of heart means a unanimous singleness of purpose. God's people become content with God. They don't have to seek anything else. The hard, deaf, immovable heart of stone will be radically transformed into a tender, receptive and responsive heart (Jeremiah 32:39 or Ezekiel 18:31). This new life and its heart can only be the work of the Holy Spirit. When we recognize God and His work, and turn from our sin, God will give us new motives, new guidelines and new purpose.

Idols in Our Hearts

God condemns and promises He will punish so-called Christians who, as He puts it, "set up idols in their hearts." We have idols in our hearts when we pursue reputation, acceptance, wealth or sensual pleasure with the intensity and fervor that should be reserved for God.

On Grief

Sometimes our grief could actually be caused by circumstances or events in our lives that represent God's punishment for sins - our own and/or the sins of others. Regardless of the source of our grief though, our grief should turn us more toward God than away from Him.

Blinding Factors

Sometimes our prosperity, popularity or human strengths and abilities blind us to our spiritual helplessness.

Money's Dilemma

Money has a strange and unique ability to lead people into sin. It causes us to make bad choices and do wrong things - which displeases or even angers God. It is ironic that we use money - which itself is a gift form God - to buy things or pursue things and do things that separate us from God. Moreover, it is tragic that we spend so much money seeking to satisfy ourselves and so little time seeking God - who is the true source of satisfaction.

Hope

God's people are never left without hope. No matter what our circumstances look like, we who are in Christ are never left without explanation and direction. God is always in control, He will guide us through our troubles (Psalm 23), and there is hope for the future that God has planned for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11).