September 8

God Is Just

No pleasure in punishment
Ezekiel 18:21-24

Read the Bible through:
AM - Song of Solomon 1-4 : PM - 1 Corinthians 13

Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?" (Ezek. 18:23)

My cousin, Jimmy, was a childhood prankster who loved to tease and torment. He would pester the girls, sneak out of school, and generally stay in trouble.

Frequently, he received a skin-tingling whipping from his Mama. I often heard her say, "Son, this hurts me more than it does you." He would holler back, "Then why don't you stop, and we'll both feel better?"

We have been reading from God's message to Ezekiel about the causes and consequences of sin. God told the Israelites how to break free from the sin trap. God assures that all the transgressions the wicked person has committed in the past will not be mentioned to him in the future. This is what God desires. He has no "pleasure at all that the wicked should die" (18:23). To the contrary, the Lord God desires that the repentant sinner "should return from his ways, and live."

Gracious Lord, You are my pleasure and my life.

September 7

God Is Just

Assigning accountability
Ezekiel 18:19-20

Read the Bible through:
AM - Ecclesiastes 8-12 : PM - 1 Corinthians 12

"The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself" (Ezek. 18:20).

It's bad enough to blame our parents, peers, or circumstances for our sins, but it's much worse to blame God. I read about a person on a weight-loss program who bought some donuts. When asked why, he implied that it was God's fault, because He had opened up a parking place right in front of the bakery just as he was driving by.

In Exodus 32, we read how the high priest, Aaron, supervised the making of a golden image for worship. This resulted in the death of 3,000 Israelites and brought a terrible plague on the nation. Instead of repenting immediately and taking responsibility as the leader, Aaron first blamed the people, saying they had put such pressure on him that he had no choice. Then he went even further and lied. He said that all he did was throw the gold into the melting pot, and the image of a calf mysteriously appeared (Exodus 32:24).
Moses rejected Aaron's excuse. He confronted his brother with his sin and then prayed for him (Deuteronomy 9:20).

When you do wrong, take the blame. Don't look for scapegoats. Most important, don't blame God.

Lord, thank You for Your grace in assigning accountability.

September 6

God Is Just

Owner of all
Ezekiel 18:3-4

Read the Bible through:
AM - Ecclesiastes 4-7 : PM - 1 Corinthians 11

"Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die. (Ezek. 18:4).

God owns "the cattle upon a thousand hills" (Ps. 50:10). That doesn't preclude personal ownership. It just reminds us all we have is on loan from Him.

God's mantle of ownership stretches across the universe. We have tried to teach our children that material things are not that important. People are. A preacher friend from back home told me the following story.

"Last winter I noticed that our oldest daughter wasn't wearing the warm, fuzzy coat we had given her. When I asked her about it, she looked embarrassed. "Well, you see, this woman came into the soup kitchen the other night who had no coat at all. I've got lots of jackets and sweaters. I won't freeze, but I was afraid she might. So I gave away my Christmas coat. I hope you don't mind.' I had never been more proud of her."

What has God loaned you that you can share with others?

Thank You, Owner of all, for Your loving kindness.

September 5

God Is Just

Judging individuals
Ezekiel 18:1-2

Read the Bible through:
AM - Ecclesiastes 1-3 : PM - 1 Corinthians 10

"What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children's teeth are set on edge'? (Ezek. 18:2).

I grew up in a small neighborhood in North Tulsa. It was a closed neighborhood surrounded by a steel manufacturing plant on the west, auto salvages on the north, small industrial businesses on the east, and a chemical plant on the south. Everyone in the neighborhood knew the sins of their neighbors and didn't mind saying so over the backyard fence.

The family that ranked highest on the gossip list lived in a shack around the block from us. They were so poor that the mother had to cook outside and make the kids' shirts out of flour sacks. When something came up missing around the community, they received the blame. My mother disagreed. "They may be poor, but they are not thieves," she said. Sadly, the rest of the neighborhood was not that trusting.

Our devotional passage relates God's disapproval of a certain proverb. The proverb was used by the Israelites to blame others rather than accepting personal responsibility for sin. Let us remember, "Judge not, that you be not judged."

Lord, forgive me for judging others

September 4

God Is Holy

Evoking Praise
1 Chronicles 16:36

Read the Bible through:
AM - Proverbs 30-31 : PM - 1 Corinthians 9

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! And all the people said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD. (1 Chron. 16:36).

Celebration is the name of a church in New Orleans. It is a young, energetic, exciting new church that meets in what was formerly a shopping mall. The members find stimulation and love there.

When I think of churches like Celebration Church, I think of the 15 and 16th chapters of 1 Chronicles. I've found in these passages reasons for rejoicing and praising God. Read them and see if you don't agree. Perhaps you can feel the excitement of King David, having formed an orchestra and choir that marched through the streets of Jerusalem, carrying the sacred ark through the streets.

I pray that our church will be a fellowship of joy and excitement.

Lord, help me to joyfully praise You every day.

September 3

God Is Holy

The Savior of His people
1 Chronicles 16:35

Read the Bible through:
AM - Proverbs 27-29 : PM - 1 Corinthians 8

"Save us, O God of our salvation; Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles, To give thanks to Your holy name, To triumph in Your praise." (1 Chron. 16:35).

The pilot of a military plane was forced to parachute into a jungle in Southeast Asia. How could he possibly find his way out? A local man saw what had happened and came to the pilot's rescue, slashing through the tangled underbrush. The frightened pilot cried out, "Where's the road? Where's the way out?" The rescuer shouted back, "No road! I'm the way! Follow me!" The pilot trusted the man, who led him through the jungle to safety.

Some people have a difficult time accepting similar words spoken by the Lord Jesus. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Critics call this teaching intolerant and divisive. But because the Son of God said it, and the Word of God records it, it is true no matter how much it is challenged. Faith in Jesus is the only way to eternal fellowship with God.

The pathway to God is not found by following a creed, developing moral character, or attending church. It's found by trusting Jesus to forgive our sin and reconcile us to the Father. When we open our hearts to the crucified and risen Savior, we are on the only pathway that will bring us home to God.

Oh, God, the power of human saviors is limited. Thank You, there are no limitations on Your power to save.

September 2

God Is Holy

Eternally merciful
1 Chronicles 16:34

Read the Bible through:
AM - Proverbs 24-26 : PM - 1 Corinthians 7

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever (1 Chron. 16:34).

When Thomas Hooker lay dying, a friend said, "Brother, you are going to receive the reward of your labors." He humbly replied, Brother, I am going to receive mercy." We need nothing but mercy, but mercy we must have or we are lost. Justice would give us what we deserve - hell. God in His infinite mercy and grace gives us heaven.

Merciful Lord, as I walk this life journey, help me, too, to be merciful to everyone I meet.