Ezekiel 11:1-12:16
Lord, You speak to us about our sin - ‘Son
of man, you are living among a rebellious people’ - and Your salvation -
‘I will... put a new spirit in them...’ (Ezekiel 12:2; Ezekiel
11:19-20). Show us, Lord, that we must receive’ with humility, the bad
news concerning our sin - ‘The wages of sin is death’ - before we can
receive, with gladness, the Good News concerning Your salvation - ‘The
free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans
6:23). You want each of us to be saved: ‘The Lord... does not want
anyone to perish; He wants everyone to turn away from their sins’ (2
Peter 3:9). To those who refuse to be saved, dismissing the bad news
concerning their sin and closing their hearts to the Good News
concerning Your salvation, You speak Your Word or warning: ‘...I will
punish them for what they have done’ (Ezekiel 11:21).
Ezekiel 12:17-13:23
‘Hear
the Word of the Lord!’ (Ezekiel 13:2). Lord, Your Word warns us: ‘The
time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching. Instead, to
suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of
teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn
away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.’When, Lord, we
see this happening, help us to commit ourselves to You. May we live as
Your faithful servants: ‘As for you, always be steady, endure suffering,
do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry’ (2 Timothy 4:3-5).
When, Lord. people are looking for a ‘feel good’ type of message, a
message with plenty of entertainment and no real challenge, may we never
forget that Your Word is to be used for ‘teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness...’ (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
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