Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, all of you according to your ways—oracle of the Lord GOD. Turn, turn back from all your crimes, that they may not be a cause of sin for you ever again. Ezekiel 18:30 NABRE
Ezekiel shares God’s thoughts on punishment being passed on from one generation to the next. God rejects the idea that the sins of ancestors are paid for by following generations. God emphasizes individual responsibility and accountability. This idea of personal accountability allows the listener to hear God’s thoughts on forgiveness and mercy. God says, “Do I find pleasure in the death of the wicked—oracle of the Lord GOD? Do I not rejoice when they turn from their evil way and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23) It is a human behavior to want justice for crimes committed, God desires mercy. God wants the listener to turn away from crimes so they may never be the cause of sin. Sin is separating ourselves from God. God desires communion and closeness, anything that separates His creation from Him is undesirable for God. God will judge our heart, our entire life arises on the tip of our intention, it is God reading our heart and knowing what it is we intend. Often our intention is unconscious and so God is aware sometimes we are just in a trance and He calls us to wake up and be aware. Though Ezekiel says God will judge us according to our ways, God’s judgement is true because He knows where our ways are coming from and where they are going.
We must live in the present, practice knowing what we are doing and how we are living in the moment. We often hear God is not in the past or the future but here and now. Though, we may spend lots of time thinking about the past and future, we are best when we are living in the moment.
What do you notice most about yourself day to day? Are you aware of the present?
Our entire life arises on the tip of our intention, God reads our heart, knowing what it is we intend. Often our intention is unconscious and so God is aware sometimes we are just in a trance and He calls us to wake up and be aware. Share on X#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #intention #heart #Ezekiel#everybodyalways#god#jesuschrist#jesussaves#godisgood#dailydevotion#biblestudy#scripture#bibleverse#verseoftheday#cross#last#gospels#loveeachother#godisgreat#thisVineyard#youversion#everythingalways