Ezekiel 33:11-12 - Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares
the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather
that they turn from their ways and live. Turn!
Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?' "Therefore, son of man, say to your
countrymen, 'The righteousness of the righteous man will not
save him when he disobeys, and the wickedness of the wicked man will not cause
him to fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, if he sins, will not be
allowed to live because of his former righteousness.'
Ezekiel was given a word for the people of Judah. Ezekiel
was finally able to preach hope and restoration to the people of Judah. God
wanted them to know the truth of his heart…he took no pleasure in the
destruction that was happening around them.
His will was that all come to follow him and live righteous lives…but evil
would not be tolerated forever. Evil men
would die.
God is clear here…it is not our righteousness that saves us….it
is our belief in a mighty God who sent his son to die for all our sins. All
that God requires is for us to turn from any sins we were committing…and begin
to let his love power us to do good in the world. No amount of good works will
save us if they happen apart from a belief in God.
God is also clear that no sin is too great to be purged from
the heart of one who turns from that sin and begins a life with God. His sin is washed clean as the whitest snow and
then God dries them in his love. The need and drive to do evil is replaced with
a passion to do good.
It is a reminder to me to remember that no matter what a person
has done…they can still become a child of God.
It is also a reminder that I must be careful to guard my heart from sin…and
constantly ask God to clean me up and dry me off with a fresh towel of love.
Father…thank you for the reminder that your love can
overcome the darkest evil. Forgive me for the times that I have judged evil
instead of offering it your hope of cleansing and freedom. Wash me new this morning
of all the sin in my life …and power me to do the things that you have planned
for me to help you spread love to all. Amen.
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