The Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, July 20, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Wednesday July 20, 2022
TOPIC: GOD FORGIVES SIN BUT PUNISHES SINNERS
TEXT: Ezekiel 18:21-32
21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. 25 Yet ye say, The way of the LORD is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? 26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the LORD is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, July 20, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
Yesterday, we saw that all souls belong to God. He is particularly interested in every individual and will by no means absolve the guilty but will save the souls of the righteous. Our passage today points out clearly that it is the desire of God to embrace any sinner that turns away from his wickedness (v.27). This is another scriptural proof that God loves sinners but hates sin. As soon as a sinner throws away his sin and comes to God, he will be welcomed. This is because God's mercy is boundless and endures forever. It is also interesting to note that God is not going to spare anyone who had known His way but deliberately relapses into sin and fails to repent; his righteous deeds will no longer count (v.26). In other words, the righteous have to be on their toes always in their pursuit of the holiness of God. God is so just that when a sinner repents, he obtains forgiveness but when a righteous person backslides, he will be severely punished.
Beloved, God can cleanse you from your sins no matter how terrible they might be. The blood of Jesus Christ our Lord cleanses from all sins (1 John 1:7). All you need to do is to surrender to the Lord and turn away completely from your sinful lifestyle; God is willing to forgive you. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and He will save you from your sins (Matt. 1:21) In the same vein, if you have been on the Lord's side and you are beginning to sing the Lord's songs in a strange land, it will be rewarding for you to turn to the Lord for forgiveness. Your unrighteous activities are enough to rob you of your eternal crown. Therefore, as a carrier of God's saving grace, you are to remain steadfast to the very end God has no pleasure in the death of a sinner but that he should repent and live.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I come to you today, save my soul and let me stand in the righteousness of Christ always. Amen.