“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die. O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11).
TEXT — Ezekiel 33:8-20
Message
Some people do not know that their best interest in life lies only in submitting themselves to the dictates of the Lord. They take God for granted and remain adamant in their rebellious and foul lifestyle while choosing to live as they please. Many times, believers give up on such people, turning instead to more receptive ears.
Prophet Ezekiel was tasked with warning the people of Israel to turn away from sin or face judgment from God. As a watchman over Israel, he had a duty to call the wicked to repentance. While God would hold him accountable for not delivering the warning, Ezekiel would be blameless if the sinners did not heed his message. He was also responsible for reminding the righteous to stay true to God and not backslide. God’s desire was for all sinners to repent and turn back to Him so that His plans for them could be fulfilled. He would forgive those who genuinely repented and made amends for their wrongs but would punish the righteous who relapsed into sin. God’s standard was fair and just, showing mercy to those who return to Him in repentance.
God takes no delight in the death of any sinner. He desires that everyone should repent of their sins and be saved. Once saved, God does not reckon with our past offences irrespective of how grievous they were. At the same time, we must never become wilfully indulgent in sin, counting on our past righteousness. Once a person relapses into sin, it invalidates all his/her previous good deeds before God.
Today, the Lord calls all sinners and backsliders to repentance and to take refuge under the redemptive shelter of Jesus Christ. The righteous is also called to steadfastness. Only by responding to this call can we live meaningfully here on earth and gloriously in eternity.
Thought for the day
Every attempt to ignore God comes with too great a cost.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
Thank you O Lord for your desire for my salvation. What a compassionate God you are! Please, help me O Lord to remain steadfast in faith in your Word, and committed to knowing and doing your Will in Jesus name, Amen.
MAY HIS GRACE BACK US UP (AMEN)
Thank you O Lord for your desire for my salvation. What a compassionate God you are! Please, help me O Lord to remain steadfast in faith in your Word, and committed to knowing and doing your Will in Jesus name, Amen.