Day 22

“Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. The LORD said to me, ‘This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it’.” — Ezekiel 44:1-2

At one point in Ezekiel’s vision of the temple, he was instructed, “Son of man, look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything I tell you concerning all the regulations regarding the temple of the LORD. Give attention to the entrance of the temple and all exits of the sanctuary.” (Ezekiel 44:5).

In the previous chapter, Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord coming from the east. He heard His voice like the roar of rushing waters, and saw the land was radiant with His glory. He then saw the glory of the LORD enter the temple through the gate facing east, and was told, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet.” (Ezekiel 43:7) The Lord was in the temple and Ezekiel saw His glory fill it. God had made it His throne and the place where His feet had conquered. Ezekiel is then taken back to the same gate and told that it is to remain shut. No one may enter through it because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it.”

When the Lord entered the temple, the gate was to remain closed because there is no addition to the Lord, Himself. He is all that God is, and when we receive Him, we receive all that God has for us. We must shut and bolt the door through which the Lord Jesus Christ has come. The Lord will have many things to do from within, but He has nothing more to bring from the outside. So we, too, must diligently guard the entrance, allowing nothing to enter that distracts from Him.

It is the Spirit of Jesus whom we receive at the time of rebirth, and it is imperative He is allowed to fill our lives with all that He is. When we grieve Him, we do not drive Him out for the door is shut, and regardless of how well intentioned we may be, there is nothing we can bring in to please Him. There is nothing more to receive than Jesus, and nothing more that can be added to Him. Our responsibility is to let loose in every area of our lives the Spirit of God in whom we are sealed until the day of redemption.

Prayer: Dear precious Lord, with grateful heart and in humility, I receive all of you. Help me to keep the door closed by which you entered, so that my life in every way and in all areas remains focused on you alone. thank you, Lord.

To reflect upon: Have I allowed Jesus to fill my life completely? Is there anything I need to change to allow Him full access?