Ezekiel 17-19
*Click here to read this passage:
“God’s Message to me: ‘What do you people mean by going around the
country repeating the saying,
The parents ate green apples,
The children got the stomachache?
‘As sure as I’m the living God, you’re not going to repeat this
saying in Israel any longer. Every
soul—man, woman, child—belongs to me, parent and child alike. You die for your own sin, not
another’s.” (Ezekial 18:1-4
The Message)
The Israelites were not taking responsibility for their
choices. They were placing blame
anywhere but on themselves. They
were complaining that God was not fair because He was punishing them for their
ancestors’ sins, but God makes it clear here that this was not the case.
They also had an apathetic attitude believing there was nothing
they could do because it wasn’t their fault. God tells them that even though they could not change the
fate of their nation – judgment was still coming – they could save their
individual lives if they would repent and turn to Him.
It is easy to make excuses for our behavior and blame other people
in our lives, our upbringing, our genetics, our financial situation, our
culture, etc. We can even blame
God. But at some point everyone
has to take responsibility and stop placing the blame
on something or someone else. Then
we can truly live.
“Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a
new heart and a new spirit. Why
will you die, O House of Israel?
For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign
Lord. Repent and live!” (18:31-32)
No comments:
Post a Comment