Important things should never be taken for granted. Checking and verifying always makes good sense, because assumptions can be disastrous. Same goes for spiritual matters.
"Son of man, they who live in these waste places in the land of Israel are saying, 'Abraham was only one, yet he possessed the land; so to us who are many the land has been given as a possession.' " (Ezekiel 33.24)
On the surface, the logic of an assumption made here makes sense: God gave Abraham land of promise, and so his numerous descendants would be ongoing recipients of the land. There is only one problem with the assumption: the land promise was based on an important condition. As long as Abraham's descendants were faithful to their Father, they could anticipate inhabiting the land. But, unfaithfulness and wickedness would result in expulsion and captivity. And, they were on the eve of that very punishment because of their lifestyle: "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'You eat meat with the blood in it, lift up your eyes to your idols as you shed blood. Should you then possess the land? You rely on your sword, you commit abominations and each of you defiles his neighbor's wife. Should you then possess the land?' " (Ezekiel 33.25-26).
The lessons extend down to us today: do not presume on God's grace and mercy. He Who has extended a covenant of life to us through His Son expects a lifestyle consistent with that covenant. As John the baptist declared, "bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3.8). Lifestyle needs to be in harmony with profession.
No one gets it totally right. Lapses of sin are inevitable, but habits of willful sin are a major concern. Such as it was with Abraham's descendants in Ezekiel's day: hardened sinful practices characterized their lives, and placed them outside of God's grace. A sobering reminder is given to us in Hebrews 6.4-6 that the same can happen to God's children today.
If the highest commandment is wholehearted love of our Father (Matthew 22.37), it only makes sense that those who that commandment seriously will want to please Him with their lifestyle. It is a reasonable commitment.
If our attitude today is, "What's the least I can do and still live in God's grace?", I suspect we're in serious trouble. But, if our heart's desire is to live for Him and serve Him fully, His grace and mercy will shower down upon us.
May love motivate loving obedience and lifestyle.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
"Son of man, they who live in these waste places in the land of Israel are saying, 'Abraham was only one, yet he possessed the land; so to us who are many the land has been given as a possession.' " (Ezekiel 33.24)
On the surface, the logic of an assumption made here makes sense: God gave Abraham land of promise, and so his numerous descendants would be ongoing recipients of the land. There is only one problem with the assumption: the land promise was based on an important condition. As long as Abraham's descendants were faithful to their Father, they could anticipate inhabiting the land. But, unfaithfulness and wickedness would result in expulsion and captivity. And, they were on the eve of that very punishment because of their lifestyle: "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'You eat meat with the blood in it, lift up your eyes to your idols as you shed blood. Should you then possess the land? You rely on your sword, you commit abominations and each of you defiles his neighbor's wife. Should you then possess the land?' " (Ezekiel 33.25-26).
The lessons extend down to us today: do not presume on God's grace and mercy. He Who has extended a covenant of life to us through His Son expects a lifestyle consistent with that covenant. As John the baptist declared, "bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3.8). Lifestyle needs to be in harmony with profession.
No one gets it totally right. Lapses of sin are inevitable, but habits of willful sin are a major concern. Such as it was with Abraham's descendants in Ezekiel's day: hardened sinful practices characterized their lives, and placed them outside of God's grace. A sobering reminder is given to us in Hebrews 6.4-6 that the same can happen to God's children today.
If the highest commandment is wholehearted love of our Father (Matthew 22.37), it only makes sense that those who that commandment seriously will want to please Him with their lifestyle. It is a reasonable commitment.
If our attitude today is, "What's the least I can do and still live in God's grace?", I suspect we're in serious trouble. But, if our heart's desire is to live for Him and serve Him fully, His grace and mercy will shower down upon us.
May love motivate loving obedience and lifestyle.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
posted by steve @ 9:27 AM
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