I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Ezekiel 44-45.

    Ezekiel moves on from his description of the new Temple to give detailed instructions concerning the priesthood and the ruler in post-Exile Jerusalem. Having read this passage multiple times over the years I was expecting to slog through it with little interest in what I found. However, I was just barely starting the passage when I came across God’s condemnation of the people of Israel for bringing godless foreigners into the Temple. Not only did they invite those who had no respect for God into the Temple, they hired them to take charge of its maintenance. In response to this God commands that going forward no foreigners, not even those living among the Jewish people, were to be allowed into the Temple…unless they had dedicated themselves to God.
    It would be easy to see these instructions which God gave through Ezekiel as calling for the exclusion of “foreigners”, and they do, but they also contain provisions for those “foreigners” to become citizens. So, it is important that we do not turn management of any element of our ministry over to those who are not believers. But, and this “but” is the important part, we should welcome those who join with us in serving God with open arms. When Ezekiel refers to foreigners here, he is referring to those who have rejected God. If and when these foreigners accept God and choose to serve Him they are no longer foreigners.