Today's Scripture
Ezekiel 18:21-32
Today’s reading Ezekiel 18-20
21 But if the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right, they shall surely live; they shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions that they have committed shall be remembered against them; for the righteousness that they have done they shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live? 24 But when the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity and do the same abominable things that the wicked do, shall they live? None of the righteous deeds that they have done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which they are guilty and the sin they have committed, they shall die.
25 Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 26 When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. 27 Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. 28 Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin.[c]31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.
RJ's Devotion
What does the passage say?
V. 21-24 When the wicked turn away from their wickedness, God forgives. However, when the righteous turns away from the right path, there is judgment.
V. 25-29 God points out that people can be self-centered and not see the entire picture.
V. 30-32 God calls out the to people, ‘repent and turn away from your sins.’
What does this passage mean to me/us?
We are reading through the Book of Ezekiel, according to the One Year Bible reading challenge.
We can often be caught up with our own perspective, not seeing the whole picture. If we can step one step aside and look at the bigger picture. Not dwelling on the harsh word of God, but seeing what God is requiring from us, ‘turn away from your wicked ways.’
We see how God already has a plan for Jesus to be the center of true restoration.
Restoration, in the broken relationship, happens when people turn away from their sinful ways and are cleansed by the grace of our Lord.
The prophecy also reminds us about the Parable of the Two Sons.
What God asks of us is simple; turn away from our disobediences and follow God’s purpose, which brings life.
We, on the other hand, hold onto what we love, more than God, and refuse to turn away from the things that pull us away from God. Not because God abandon us, which I do not believe God does, but because of the trap that the world puts on us, sucks us away from life, which results in death.
A good analogy is made by this Youtuber. (Maybe, I’ll use it in my sermon, one day).
What do we need to let go, to turn our back from sin?
Prayer
Lord, help us to identify what we need to let go, to focus on you, again. Help us to fix our eyes on you only. In Christ Name, AMEN.
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