Tag: Ezekiel

December 27 – With Repentance Comes Forgiveness

“Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” – Ezekiel 33:11 (ESV)

Although often misunderstood therefore rejected by many, there is a consequence to inaction regarding our eternal state. A careful reading of our Scriptures reveals the consequences of no repentance due to unbelief. The Lord God declares that He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Why? Because God knows that death for those who reject God’s offer of salvation by His grace through faith in Jesus means an eternity separated from God and all others. So the Lord calls for all to a repentance of sin. Repentance is an act of turning around and away from the ways which lead to eternal death and receive from God the free gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).  The Israelites who were exiled to Babylon had lost hope and reasoned that if they were liable to death in judgment that was inevitable, they were in a hopeless condition and had no future. God replied that He had no pleasure in seeing the wicked go into death for their sin, but desires them to repent and live. This is true of all God has called (2 Peter 3:9). He calls us to “Repent and be saved!” for there is no other way.

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May 8 – Moved to Follow

“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” – Ezekiel 36:27 (NASB)

All who truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have experienced a great change in our lives. The prophet Ezekiel was used by God to explain in part these words from God. The promise is for us as well. God’s plan and promise is that when we believe in Jesus, God’s Holy Spirit is sent to dwell, to live within us spiritually. When Jesus was still on earth He also made this promise of the Holy Spirit and He mentioned several functions which He would fill. One of these promised functions is in today’s verse. The Holy Spirit lives in the hearts of believers to motivate us to obey the Lord. As we trust in Him, we learn to sense the impulse within us often to do what is pleasing to God. In Hebrews 10:24, we are encouraged accordingly: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” It may reading the Bible or hearing the Word preached that our hearts are stirred with the desire to do what God says He wants in His Word. The stirring is the work of the Holy Spirit moving us to follow God’s will.

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September 10 – Removed from Common Use


“And the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.” – Ezekiel 37:28 (NASB)

What is to be ‘removed from common use?’ It is sanctification, what the Holy Spirit does for us. Today we consider a title of God some call a name. This is a promise to us as it was a promise to the people of Israel in Ezekiel’s prophecy⸺a promise for the future we have today. YAHWEH M’KADDEESHCHEM: “The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy” The word Kaddosh means holy, to dedicate, set apart, sanctify. We can find this title name in Leviticus 20:8 “You shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” Let’s notice the last word of this verse ‘forever.’ Ezekiel was giving a prophecy regarding what would be at the end of time when Israel is fully restored in God’s Kingdom. Then there will be an everlasting sanctuary for all the people of God. When God sanctifies Israel and all true Israel it means to make holy, separate. This is the work of the Holy Spirit who is sanctifying all of God’s people. This sanctification, it’s a promise we have now and will be fully realized and experienced when we are with Jesus in heaven.

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May 10 – Moved to Follow


“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” Ezekiel 36:27 (NASB)

The context of this promise was God speaking to His people Israel through His prophet Ezekiel. After having centuries of continual turning from God for pagan non-gods, now He was promising that one day He will do for them what they needed to follow His Way always. Those of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have experienced a great change in our lives. God’s plan and promise is that when we believe in Jesus, God’s Holy Spirit is sent to live in us. When Jesus was on earth He made this promise and He mentioned several functions which He would fill. One of these promised functions is in today’s verse. The Holy Spirit is living in the hearts of believers to move us to obey the Lord. As we trust in Him, we learn to sense the impulse in us often to do what is pleasing to God. It may be through reading the Bible or hearing the Word preached that our hearts are stirred with the desire to do what God says He wants us to do in His Word. The stirring is the work of the Holy Spirit moving us to follow God’s will.

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