Ezekiel 1:1-2:1 (NRSV)
Ezekiel's vision of the chariot
In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), the word of the Lord came to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was on him there.
As I looked, a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud with brightness around it and fire flashing forth continually, and in the middle of the fire, something like gleaming amber. In the middle of it was something like four living creatures. This was their appearance: they were of human form. Each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another; each of them moved straight ahead, without turning as they moved. As for the appearance of their faces: the four had the face of a human being, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle; such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. Each moved straight ahead; wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. In the middle of the living creatures there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among the living creatures; the fire was bright, and lightning issued from the fire. The living creatures darted to and fro, like a flash of lightning.
As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them. As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl; and the four had the same form, their construction being something like a wheel within a wheel. When they moved, they moved in any of the four directions without veering as they moved. Their rims were tall and awesome, for the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When they moved, the others moved; when they stopped, the others stopped; and when they rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
Over the heads of the living creatures there was something like a dome, shining like crystal, spread out above their heads. Under the dome their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another; and each of the creatures had two wings covering its body. When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of mighty waters, like the thunder of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army; when they stopped, they let down their wings. And there came a voice from above the dome over their heads; when they stopped, they let down their wings.
And above the dome over their heads there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was something that seemed like a human form. Upward from what appeared like the loins I saw something like gleaming amber, something that looked like fire enclosed all around; and downward from what looked like the loins I saw something that looked like fire, and there was a splendor all around. Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendor all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of someone speaking.
He said to me: O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you.
DEVOTION
Today I find myself jealous of the four living creatures that accompanied the Spirit of God!
Scripture says that "wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went."
Oh how I hope history will say the same about me!
Now, I know that I am not a heavenly creature with four faces, multiple wings, and a wheel in the middle of a wheel for transport--but I am a follower of God and it is my fervent prayer that I will be so in tune with the heart and move of spirit that I will follow God wherever God may lead me without turning to the right or to the left unless God says so!
As human beings this type of radical obedience is difficult because of the reality of sin; we fall short of the mark daily. But, thanks be to God for our Jesus who died on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life.
Today is Strove Tuesday (also known as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras). All throughout the Christian Church people are feasting, because tomorrow we fast!
On Wednesday, we will begin the 40-days, plus Sundays, march to the Good Friday cross with Jesus. It is a time of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. It is a time for taking inventory of the ways in which we have been faithful followers of God and the ways that we have not.
It is the season in the life of the Christian Church when we truly attempt to follow God, no matter how difficult the path, turning neither to the left or to the right.
Today, as we feast, I hope we will hold the vision of the heavenly creatures in our mind. I hope that this vision will accompany us during our Lenten Journey and I pray with all my heart that as we walk with Jesus between now and Easter Sunday, we will hear God saying to each of us, "O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you."
Please pray with me:
O Holy One, you are unknowable and unsearchable. Your glory and splendor fill the earth! Please help me to follow wherever you may lead, neither turning to the right or to the left unless you say so. Please forgive me for the many times that I have not faithfully followed you and please fill me up with your Holy Spirit so that I will be radically obedient to your will and your way. I love you and I promise to share your love with others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @http://bit.ly/JVhaL
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