Ezekiel 18:25-32
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26 When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make 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, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
God's desire is that we should all repent and turn to Him. The good news is that we can all do that. It doesn't matter what we have done in the past; if one "turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life" (verse 27). God offers each of us a new clean start. He wants us to succeed: "I have no pleasure in the death of anyone" (verse 32). We are not doomed by our past, but have the opportunity to begin anew, so let's take advantage of God's gracious offer! The end of this chapter summarizes it simply: "so turn,and live!" (verse 32).
Sovereign Lord, thank you for not holding my past against me, and giving me new opportunities.
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26 When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make 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, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
God's desire is that we should all repent and turn to Him. The good news is that we can all do that. It doesn't matter what we have done in the past; if one "turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life" (verse 27). God offers each of us a new clean start. He wants us to succeed: "I have no pleasure in the death of anyone" (verse 32). We are not doomed by our past, but have the opportunity to begin anew, so let's take advantage of God's gracious offer! The end of this chapter summarizes it simply: "so turn,and live!" (verse 32).
Sovereign Lord, thank you for not holding my past against me, and giving me new opportunities.