Turn From Evil

 “…Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin… 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” Ezekiel 18:30, 32 ESV

The 18th chapter of Ezekiel addresses the death of the wicked and God’s desire to intervene. There is a frequent appeal from the Lord to turn from evil, so we can live life as He intended for us to live. Unless we turn from sin and turn to Jesus Christ death awaits us. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 ESV. 

The Lord takes no pleasure in death which is the result of the fall, so we cannot assume that God takes pleasure in judgment either. Because justice must be served it grieves the heart of God when men perish. This is the reason God sent His Son to save us from our sins and give us eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16 (ESV)

 TODAY’S PRAYER

Thank you Lord for not leaving us in our sin to bear its wages. Thank you for the invitation to repent and to turn from all our transgressions. We accept the simple instruction to turn and live, knowing that you bore our sins on the cross. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 NIV

God Bless,

Pastor Matt