Scripture: Ezekiel 22: 13 & 14
"I will surely strike my hands together at the unjust gain you have made and at the blood you have shed in your midst. Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with you? I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it."
Observation: Sin has consequences
Application: We all sin and it is only through God's mercy and grace that we are forgiven. We deserve to be punished for our sins and face the consequences of our disobedience. In Ezekiel 20: 32 it says: "We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone." How true it is that we want to be like everyone else? We desire to have the same possessions, the same looks, the same car, the same house or maybe even better or more than everyone else. I think this is true even of our sins. Why should we seek to adhere to the laws that God commanded us when we see our friends and neighbours going against God's will. If they are doing it...why can't I? It's hard to stand up for what you believe and know is right and it just becomes easier to do what everyone else is doing. We know longer live in the times of Ezekiel but the struggle is still the same. We allow sin to sneak into our lives and we begin to follow the ways of the world instead of the ways of God. We serve "wood and stone" or maybe more appropriately, "money and possessions" instead of God. But where does that get us?? In verses 22: 13 & 14, it is clear that there are severe consequences for our sinful actions. We have seen how patient God has been with his people. He has been slow to anger, compassionate, asking - no, begging - people to repent. And they have not. And things just keep getting worse and worse and worse. Isn't that exactly how sin takes over our lives as well. It may start off small but then it grows and separates us from God in a very harsh way. In verses 13 & 14, God promises to deal with us and our sin. The consequences for sin are very real. Let us never forget the truth of Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Prayer: Dear Lord, Sometimes we need to realize that our sin is very real and it is only through your grace that we can be forgiven and not have to face the consequences that we so rightfully deserve. Please help us to not want to be like everyone else. Your plan is for us to be separate and yet we often find ourselves wanting and yearning for the temporary things of this world. Guide us to desire the eternal things instead. Lord, you always say what you mean and mean what you say and it gives us comfort to know that you are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Amen.
1 comment:
So true Pam. Sin can be seductively subtle sometimes and then we become enticed and we start justifying - what an ugly cycle!
Post a Comment