Ezekiel 18 - 1.5.26
Scripture
Ezekiel 18:32 NIV
“For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”
Observation
In this passage, the people of Israel are in the midst of life’s struggles. They believe God is punishing them for their ancestors’ sins, when in fact they couldn’t be more wrong.
Ezekiel then gets a word from God. God tells the people of Israel that He is holding each person accountable for the lifestyle they are choosing to live by. The current struggles they are experiencing is from their own sinful behaviors, so if they want to blame anyone, then they need to look no further than in the mirror.
But, in God’s grace, righteousness, and mercy, He offers the people of Israel liberation from the burden of ancestral sin. God offers them a fresh start and direct relationship based on personal choices, not inherited guilt, calling everyone to choose righteousness and live.
Application
Choose righteousness and live!
Some people picture God to be someone who is just waiting for us to mess up and the moment you do…WHAM!!! God is ready to just pounce on us, punish us, and send us to Hell. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
The verse I chose today shows you God’s heart for people. He doesn’t want to send anyone to Hell. He doesn’t want ANYONE to spend eternity separated from Him and His love. God loves us all! But, God is a holy and righteous God. He is just and He cannot contradict Himself. He can’t just allow sin to go unpunished and “sweep it under the rug”. So, God provided a way for all of us to be cleansed from our sins. He provided a way for us to be righteous. He provided a way for ALL to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Enter Jesus.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” -John 3:16-18
God came out of the comforts of Heaven to be born in the flesh as Jesus. He was the only one to live a perfect and sinless life. Yet, He willingly died a sinner’s death on that cross and because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we all have that opportunity to be righteous through Him. We all have the opportunity (just like the Israelites in this passage) to turn away from our sinful way of living and to choose righteousness; to choose Jesus and live! When it’s all said and done, God will hold each of us accountable for our actions and choices in life. We can’t live off of our parents’ faith. It has to be our choice, our decision. What will that choice and decision be for us today? What will we choose to do with the name of Jesus? 🤔
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your heart for humanity and not wanting to see any perish, but for all to have this opportunity, this free gift of salvation that was paid for us by Jesus. I pray that others may know You the way I do. Give me the courage and boldness to share Your message to others around me so that when that day comes when You hold them accountable for their actions and choices, they will be found righteous because of their faith in Jesus. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi