Ezekiel 12 – a second chance for the few…

God asks Ezekiel to act out a symbolic sketch of what is to come.  He wants Israel to see what is going to happen to them – that they are going to be sent into exile.  He also wants them to know that most will die – only a few will be spared.

“They will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries.  But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices.  Then they will know that I am the LORD.” (vv. 15-16)

I am one of the few.  I am in a sort of exile, and I am finally acknowledging my detestable practices.

As you can see from the date of my last entry and the date of this one, I haven’t been in God’s Word.  I have been doing the very things I warned against in past posts.

“I know that I will be blessed if I’m obedient… I need to be.”

“Too often I’m quick to shower myself with God’s grace.  When I sin, I tell myself that it’s ok and that God will forgive me.”

“I shouldn’t take my sin so lightly.”

“How much will it take for you to really understand God?  Do you know how serious He is about sin?  Do you know He wants your whole life?  Or are you just playing the game because you know how to act ‘Christian?’”

“How repentant am I over sin?  Do I grieve over my mistakes, or do I simply let them slide?”

“DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GOD’S GRACE!”

Through a friend, I’ve been brought back to the place I need to be – repentant and in His Word.  I am thankful that I am one of the spared, and I am praying that I will remain in God’s Word where I so desperately need to be.  I’m a pastor.  An example.  I need to be leading others to Jesus.  How can I do that if I myself am not in tune with Him?

God, forgive me.  I repent.  Continue to bring my repentant heart to You.  Amen.

Ezekiel 11 – an opportunity for redemption

God calls the remnant of Israel on their wickedness and confronts them with their fears in hopes that they change their ways.  Ezekiel asks if any will be saved, and God finally gives a little hope…

“They will return to [Israel] and remove all its vile images and detestable idols.  I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.  Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.  They will be my people, and I will be their God.” vv. 18-20

If only it ended there.  In my Bible, the next word is “But.”  God says that if they stay tied to their vile images, He will destroy them (summed up).  Ezekiel’s vision (which started in chapter 8) ends, and he shares everything with the remnant of Israel.

Two things jump out – first, Ezekiel is a faithful guy.  He is devoted to Israel, weeping over the lost and begging God to save some.  He is more so devoted to God, being faithful to carry out his job – share the message with the remnant.  Ezekiel is not talked about enough in churches.  He is an excellent role model of faithfulness.

Second, when God gives you a chance, take it!  Yes, He is a gracious God, but He is also a just God.  If you keep turning Him down, He will not take pity on you come judgment day.  DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GOD’S GRACE!

Ezekiel 9 – to mark or not to mark?

God is still showing Ezekiel around “Christmas Carol” style, and this time, Ezekiel sees the death of what seems like most of Israel.  God has a guy go out and put a mark on everyone who is grieving over their sin.  God also has six other guys follow the marking guy.  These six are told to kill everyone that doesn’t get a mark.

As Ezekiel sees the massive bloodshed, he weeps over the dead, wondering if any will be spared.  God simply replies, “…I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but will bring down on their own heads what they have done” (v. 10).

This is one more reminder of how serious God is about sin, but this time there is a new side of God we see.  God honors and protects the repentant heart.  He sees those who truly mourn over their sin and has compassion on them.

This ties in exactly to what we’re going to be talking about on Sunday!  We’re talking about the Last Supper when Jesus foretells   the sins of Peter and Judas.  One of the big differences in these stories is the aftermath of their sin.  Peter realizes his mistake, repents, and becomes a cornerstone of the church.  Judas realizes his mistake and thinks so little of himself that he commits suicide.

How repentant am I over sin?  Do I grieve over my mistakes, or do I simply let them slide?  God, break my heart over my sin.  Give me a heart that grieves and aches.  Amen.