These Are Central Place Them At The Center

Ezekiel 48:8
“Bordering the territory of Judah from east to west will be the portion you are to present as a special gift. It will be 25,000 cubits wide, and its length from east to west will equal one of the tribal portions; the sanctuary will be in the center of it.
Ezekiel 48:22
So the property of the Levites and the property of the city will lie in the center of the area that belongs to the prince. The area belonging to the prince will lie between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin.

God through Prophet Ezekiel gives the layout plan of how the Israelites will live after restoration from captivity. God gives a plan of where every tribe will live. Then God places certain things at the center of the community of Israel. We believe that these are central to life and God wants them placed at the center.

First of all, God tells Israelites through Ezekiel that the Sanctuary, the place of worship will be placed at the center of the community of Israel. Every tribe will live around the place of worship. God places the place of worship at the center of the community. The Levites and priests who serve at the Sanctuary were also to live close to the place of worship.

Secondly, Ezekiel 48:15, God places the city at the center of the Israel community. Ezekiel 48:19 tells us that city people will be from all tribes of Israel. There has been a false notion that God made man but man made the city. At this point we see God designing a city at the center of the community of Israel. He even provides land near the city where food for the city will come from. The city is designated as a place for business. God places the city, just like the Sanctuary to be at the center of the community of Israel.

Thirdly, Ezekiel 48:21, God places the Royal family that leads Israel to stay at the center of the community of Israel. The Royal family represents the government and leadership of Israel. God places leadership at the center of the community of Israel. The place of worship, the economic center, and leadership are placed at the center of the community of Israel by none other than God. These are central and God wants them placed at the center!

We do not need to overemphasize the importance of worship in life. Worship must remain central in our lives. Worship must be the first thing we place at the center of life. When we do not place worship at the center we fail because we are adopting a plan that contradicts God’s plan. Worship must be the first thing we make central to our life. We succeed in everything else if we are worshippers.

Making the economy second to be placed at the center is important. The economy represents activities that bring income. God expects us to be hardworking and not beggars who are waiting for free things from sponsors abroad. God wants us to enjoy the fruit of our labor. Income does not have to be from employment only. We can engage in activities of self-employment that though difficult at the beginning will ultimately stabilize if we persevere the initial teething challenges. God wants us to be busy doing something. Idling, sleeping all the time, watching movies round the clock, sitting around, and whining is not the will of God. God expects us to be busy at something productive. If God made these central, we too should make it central. God made the city and its economic actives to be central to Israelite life.

Leadership can make or break any organization, community, and nation. God placed the leadership of Israel at the center in order to show its importance. We must be concerned with the kind of leadership we place for ourselves. We will never go beyond the vision and abilities of those who are leading us. Leaders limit or stretch what we can do. God made leadership central. Critical above all else if the leadership of your self. You lead yourself by the decisions you make and the vision you cast for yourself. You lead yourself by hardworking or procrastination. You are where you are today because of how you lead yourself. Your future will change if you change how you lead yourself. While God is the ultimate overall leader, He has given us a chance to lead ourselves from decisions we make, Leadership is central to the community and individual life.

Place these things at the center and make them central and all will be well with you. Your relationship with God through worship. Economic activities that bring income. Leadership that casts vision and gives direction. These are central place them at the center of your life! Dear God help us towards this end, in Jesus’ name, Amen!