November 29, 2006 - Ezekiel 35-36 and II Peter 1
It is easy to see that God hates sin of all kinds, and He will punish sin. His judgment on Mount Seir in Ezekiel 35 is a good example of this truth. However, sometimes God chooses to forgive sin and to bring restoration to a person or to a group of people like He pledged to do for Israel in Ezekiel 36. How does God decide when to punish and how much punishment is enough? He is able to make these decisions because of His perfect wisdom and His perfect love. We must trust Him and know that He always does the right thing at the right time. However, God seems to deal with people and groups of people based on their hearts. I believe that is why He told Israel in Ezekiel 36:26 that He would give them a soft heart of flesh to replace the heart of stone that had developed because of the hardening brought on by sin. He knows that we must have a soft heart, a teachable spirit, an inner man that is sensitive to Him, or we can't and won't follow Him. Where are you in your life? Are you in need of restoration? Ask God to give you that soft heart, and make the commitment to keep it soft by staying away from sin.
II Peter emphasizes growth, but it goes along with the truths from Ezekiel. When a person is saved, God does the saving and the changing of the heart. (v.3-4) However, God calls on us to grow, too. We are not able to live on the first part of salvation very well unless we grow in the Lord. Therefore, God says to be diligent about growing in Him. (v.5) Then, He gives us an outline of how to grow by adding one quality to another. (v.5-7) If we don't grow, we will be blind and unfruitful, but if we grow we will have fruit and vision for God's kingdom. How did Peter know this? He was with Jesus. He saw this principle in action for 3 years as he walked with Christ. He saw the growth after the resurrection Christ and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. He is telling us what He had seen happen in his own life. Peter went from a spiritual wimp to a spiritual rock by growing in the power of God. We can all do the same thing. That is God's will for each of us, not just a select few.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 37-39 and II Peter 2.
II Peter emphasizes growth, but it goes along with the truths from Ezekiel. When a person is saved, God does the saving and the changing of the heart. (v.3-4) However, God calls on us to grow, too. We are not able to live on the first part of salvation very well unless we grow in the Lord. Therefore, God says to be diligent about growing in Him. (v.5) Then, He gives us an outline of how to grow by adding one quality to another. (v.5-7) If we don't grow, we will be blind and unfruitful, but if we grow we will have fruit and vision for God's kingdom. How did Peter know this? He was with Jesus. He saw this principle in action for 3 years as he walked with Christ. He saw the growth after the resurrection Christ and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. He is telling us what He had seen happen in his own life. Peter went from a spiritual wimp to a spiritual rock by growing in the power of God. We can all do the same thing. That is God's will for each of us, not just a select few.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 37-39 and II Peter 2.