Scripture:
'Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, 
And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; 
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away. '
Proverbs 27:10

"When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, 
“Woman, behold, your son!”
 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home."
John 19:26, 27

"For even [Jesus'] own brothers did not believe in him."
John 7:5

"Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 
Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Matt 12: 48-50


Application:
In times of need, our family is our fellow believers.

Prayer:
Father, let me be a brother to Your children, and show me my sisters and brothers everyday.  Amen

Scripture:
'“What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers eat the sour grapes, But the children’s teeth are set on edge’?"
Ezekiel 18:2 NASB


"4Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make them know the abominations of their fathers; 30Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and play the harlot after their detestable things? 43There you will remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all the evil things that you have done."
Ezekiel 20:4,30,43 NASB


"Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there."
John 8:8,9 NASB


Application:
The Bible will prick our hearts right where it hurts. Areas we think we're clean in will be revealed as filthy. We can rightfully say that we're not accountable for the sins of our forefathers, but wait. Allow Jesus to "write on the ground" of our hearts. Why do we have discomfort still?
Allow conviction to do its work.
Allow conviction to save our souls.
Allow conviction to stop us from unjustly hurting other people when we ourselves could just as easily be the ones being hurt
...or even killed.


Prayer:
Lord, Father Almighty, now we are unafraid to face up to our own wrongdoing in areas where we thought we were clean. Amen.

Scripture:
“... if a country sins against Me by committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, destroy its supply of bread, send famine against it and cut off from it both man and beast, even though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves...survivors will be left in it who will be brought out...you will see their conduct and actions; then you will be comforted for the calamity...' Ezekiel 14:13-14,22


Application:
God doesn't operate, and never has operated, by whim. He is clear and consistent. If a country chooses to follow false prophets (who will be revealed), that country will be destroyed. But note: God will not destroy everyone. His faithful will survive. Unfortunately, even they won't be able to pray away the country's destruction. Perhaps they can pray for more time for people to come out of deception, but they may only rescue themselves. But now, Christ's righteousness will cover more people (believers).


Prayer:
We're asking for more time for the deceivers of the world to be revealed and people to return to You, dear Lord our Father. Amen.