Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 (NRSV)
Read Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 18The word of the Lord came to me: Verse 2What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, "The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge"? Verse 3As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Verse 4Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die. Verse 25Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is unfair." Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? Verse 26When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Verse 27Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Verse 28Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Verse 29Yet the house of Israel says, "The way of the Lord is unfair." O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
Verse 30Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Verse 31Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? Verse 32For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.
Devotion
It's comforting to know that God calls and claims each one of us; all our lives belong to God. Yet, we continue to read in Ezekiel, "it is only the person who sins that shall die." Wait ... what?! Sinners shall die. But I am a sinner; we all are sinners. Every one of us. We join with the house of Israel and we shout "unfair!" Your rules God, your laws, your commandments—they are too difficult, too precise, too much not like us. And you want us to turn from our iniquities, from our transgressions, in order to have life? How is this possible? I can't do it; none of us can do it.
But Jesus can. Yes, we will die. Because of what Jesus did for you and me on that cross and in the tomb, our sinful selves, our old Adams, our flesh is killed. And it begins in the baptismal waters. Out of this death, out of this drowning in baptism a new life begins with God's gift of a new heart and a new spirit. The sinful self won't go down easy, not without a fight. But rest assured children of God, in Jesus Christ God is making everything, and everyone, new.
Prayer
Thank you Jesus. For it is through your sacrifice, that we may have life. Guide us through the power of your Spirit into this new life with you. Amen.