““Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: You are saying, ‘Our sins are heavy upon us; we are wasting away! How can we survive?’ 11 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die? 12 “Son of man, give your people this message: The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins. 13 When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin, expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered. I will destroy them for their sins. 14 And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right. 15 For instance, they might give back a debtor’s security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil. If they do this, then they will surely live and not die.” Ezekiel 33:10-15 NLT
Sovereign Lord,
Sovereign. You are Almighty. Supreme Ruler, Holy and righteous. Who deserves all praise, glory and adoration. Life giver, creation upholder. And I am so small, one person in billions I wonder occasionally, or is it the enemy whispering a lie, how You know me and why You go on forgiving me. And yet because of Jesus I know You do.
Ezekiel stopped acting out his message and was trying to explain Your ways simply. But to a people who took You for granted, went there own way and still thought You should take care of them and protect them. They no longer even kept us the pretence of ritual. They showed no concern about living contrary to Your laws. Or did they think You no longer cared?
It is amazing that now we can now turn from our sin and know Your forgiveness. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). We in one sense are always at the cross. We make mistakes – we sin – but he is always there with us wiping away the condemnation. Forgiving us as we go. Striving with us as we struggle to forgive someone who has hurt us when we battle against temptation. Always arms outstretched to enfold us. Always willing, by His Spirit, to bring us back to the source of life and hope.And lead us back on to the narrow way. May we always choose the good, the right, the honest, the best and when we do not, be quick to retrace our steps back to You.I do not have to wait for communion to be holy again. You are here, now. Keep us kneeling at the cross in our hearts.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 10th September 2025
Never tire of hearing this worship.
Wonderful grace that gives what I don’t deserve,
pays me what Christ has earned then lets me go free.
Wonderful grace that gives me the time to change,
washes away the stains that once covered me.
And all that I have I lay at the feet
of the wonderful Saviour who loves me.
Wonderful love that held in the face of death,
breathed in its final breath forgiveness for me.
Wonderful love whose power can break every chain
giving us life again setting us free.
And all that I have I lay at the feet
of the wonderful Saviour who loves me.
Lyrics: John Pantry