Devotion • May 25
Today’s Scripture Reading
Ezekiel 18:1–4, 19–32
The word of the Lord came to me: What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die. Yet you say, “Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?” When the son has done what is lawful and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. The person who sins shall die. A child shall not suffer for the iniquity of a parent, nor a parent suffer for the iniquity of a child; the righteousness of the righteous shall be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be his own.
But if the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right, they shall surely live; they shall not die. None of the transgressions that they have committed shall be remembered against them; for the righteousness that they have done they shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live? But when the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity and do the same abominable things that the wicked do, shall they live? None of the righteous deeds that they have done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which they are guilty and the sin they have committed, they shall die. Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live. (NRSV)
Reflection
Dios es Amor.
We walked into the Presbyterian church in Guatemala City and saw those words, Dios es Amor, on a huge banner at the front of the sanctuary. We were on a Fourth Church choir tour to Guatemala and had heard some fire-and-brimstone sermons while singing concerts and worship services in very fundamentalist churches, and even though we couldn’t understand the content of the sermons since they were in Spanish, we could understand the meaning of the sermons. Clearly the message was that we were all sinners and had to repent of our evil ways or else! So seeing Dios es Amor on the banner was a striking contrast to what we had been hearing. It was like breathing in fresh air for all of us on the choir tour.
Ezekiel writes, “Turn, then, and live,” because we all have a choice to make. The members of that Presbyterian church were making a choice about God, and instead of worshiping a God to be feared, were proclaiming for all to see and know that God is love.
What choices do you make each day? Will you love your neighbor as yourself or choose not to do so? Will you buy food for that family in front of the church asking for a meal or provide housing for an immigrant in need? Will you love God or choose not to love God? Will you attend a worship service or choose not to because something else has become more important? Will you talk with God or do something for your spirit today or just let another day go by?
It’s always a choice. Ultimately the choice is what Ezekiel boldly asked: will we “turn, then, and live,” or will we choose not to turn and live? That is a choice we make every moment of every day.
Prayer
God of love, guide me in every moment to live in your love and share that love with all who so desperately need it. Help me to turn, then, and live! Amen.
Written by John W. W. Sherer, Organist and Director of Music
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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