Tuesday, November 19, 2024 - TURN AND LIVE

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 - Day 324 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Ezekiel 17,18,19; Hebrews 13)

TURN AND LIVE

“Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23 ESV)

There are people who look at all of the evil in the world, and decide that they want nothing to do with a God would allow it to continue. There are others, sometimes the same ones, who reject the idea of a God who would sentence unbelieving sinners to hell. The tragic thing is that they have never looked into the heart of God.

Ezekiel gives us a glimpse into God’s heart in today’s verse. God doesn’t want sinners to die without Jesus. His great desire is for sinners, like you and me, to repent of our sins and live with Him eternally. In other words, God wants us to turn from living for ourselves to living for Him by trusting in Jesus as our Savior and Lord.

Hymn writer Thomas Hastings urgently urges all to turn from their earthly ways and really living:

   Delay not, delay not, O sinner, draw near.

   The waters of life are now flowing for you.

   No price is demanded, the Savior is here,

   Redemption is purchased, God’s promise is true. 

   Delay not, delay not, O sinner, to come;

   For mercy still lingers and calls you today.

   Its voice is not heard in the vale of the tomb;

   Its message, unheeded, will soon pass away. 

   Delay not, delay not! The Spirit of grace,

   Long grieved and resisted, may take his sad flight

   And leave you in darkness to finish your race,

   To sink in the gloom of eternity’s night. 

   Delay not, delay not! The hour is at hand;

   The earth will dissolve, and the heavens will fade.

   The dead, small and great, in the judgment must stand.

   What power, then, O sinner, can lend you its aid? 

   Delay not, delay not! Why longer abuse   

   The love and compassion of Jesus, your God?

   A fountain is opened; how can you refuse

   To wash and be cleansed in his pardoning blood? 

   (Lutheran Worship #349)

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus in order to make it possible for me to turn away from myself and live with You. May the Holy Spirit continue His work of turning me to You for the rest of my life. Amen.

Pastor David Paape