02 June 2005 Devotion for Today "A Remnant" Ezekiel 6:8-10

02 June 2005  Devotion for Today  “A Remnant”  Ezekiel 6:8-10

 

            As we were hoisting the sails of the Visitation the other day we were overjoyed to see that the sails were in much better shape than the hull itself had been in.  They were well-cared for and untattered.  They had quite a bit of wear left in them, as someone courteously pointed out- “remember, the rigging is more expensive than the hull.”  He was certainly right.  There was no patching required for the sails, which we were also happy about.  In the sail bags were small pieces of cloth for this purpose if we ever needed it.  They are called remnants.  I presume they were cut from the same material before the sails were made.  If there is a hole or a tear in the sail, these small pieces are already shrunken and can be sewn right into the sails without there being a danger of them coming unraveled. 

A remnant is a leftover piece of cloth and can be used in a variety of ways.  Remnants may be limited in size or breadth,  but they are still identified as part of the larger piece.  Ezekiel’s prophecy declares “Yet I will leave a remnant, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries.  Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations.  And they shall know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them.”  (Ezekiel 6:8-10). 

In spite of the tremendous wrath and punishment about to be rendered to the nation of Judah, God still demonstrates His love.  By preserving a remnant, He shows that He is not trying to destroy these people called His children.  Quite the contrary, God leaves a remnant- a group of people from which He may start over again with- to sew in the character of God where sin had previously torn a huge hole.  The value of the remnant should not be discounted.  It is a terrible disappointment to many to experience loss.  Companies down-size because of poor cash-flow.  Budgets are cut back and programs are eliminated.  Many enterprises go out of business altogether.  But understand that in Ezekiel’s prophecy- or anywhere else where people have rejected God on a mass scale- God still preserves His remnant.  A group of people is held out from which God can rebuild on a greater and grander scale.

Have you had to cut back on something and found it disappointing?  Don’t consider it a complete loss.  God has instilled enough of His character within you to set sail again.  It may require stitching and a lot of work.  But the remnant which He has sewn into your life will make all the difference.  Happy sailing, and have a blessed day!

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

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