Ezekiel 16-18

"Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!"

The book of Ezekiel is surely a hard one to swallow. It displays our wicked and sinful ways and God's judgment very clearly. As I was reading, I thought about my heart's condition. Has it become hardened toward the word of God? Is it unwilling to conform to God's ways?

I realize, like the passage says, the only way for us to live is to repent. The moment we think that we are righteous and don't need to ask God for forgiveness, God will judge us. Some people think that God takes pleasure in judging humans. That is not the God of the bible. He clearly says he does not take any pleasure in judging his people. We are judged when we refuse to repent. We know that he loves us because again and again he tells us to turn to him. He is ever so patient and merciful.

Let us ask God to search our hearts if there is anything we need to confess. Indeed, we need "a new heart and a new spirit" everyday. Praise God for he loves and forgives sinners like you and me!