Thursday, September 12, 2013

Ezekiel 31-33

September 12

Ezekiel 31-33

Ezekiel returns to the image of a watchman on a wall crying out to the city when the enemy is approaching. God has made Ezekiel, as well as all Christians, watchmen called to proclaim the Word of God, calling for people to repent, to turn from their lives of wickedness and rebellion and to turn to God. God does not want to destroy the nation of Israel and He does not want to judge people for hell, His desire is that everyone turns from their sin and turns to Him. "Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’" (Ezekiel 33:11, NIV)

 God brought disaster upon Israel, not so He could bring destruction, but to bring correction, to call the people to come back to Him. To show them that He is God and that He is more powerful than their greatest allies. God brings situations in our lives to call us back to Him. He does not want anyone to go to hell, but He continues to allow people to choose. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9, NIV)

God is patient with us; He wants everyone to come to repentance. He continues to woo us, to call us into a relationship with Him. His goal is to save us from our self destruction. We are each on the road to destruction until we turn, turn from out evil ways, turn from our sin and turn to Jesus. He loves us and wants us to come to Him for our salvation.

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