A Heart Reconciled, A Life Renewed

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A Heart Reconciled, A Life Renewed

​The Word: Ezekiel 18:21-32

​But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.

​“Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.

​“Yet you say, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what’s right, or is it you? When righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds. And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives. They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die.

​And yet the people of Israel keep saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ O people of Israel, it is you who are not doing what’s right, not I. “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!

​The Word: Matthew 5:20-26

​“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

​“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

​“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

​“When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny."

​The Urgent Call to "Turn"

​Both Ezekiel and Matthew call us to a radical, internal shift. In Ezekiel 18, God refutes the idea that we are doomed by our past or our family history. Instead, He presents a profound, mercy-filled truth: if we turn away from wickedness and do what is right, we will live.

​God takes no pleasure in death; His desire is repentance—a literal "U-turn" from the path of destruction. However, this is paired with a sobering warning: righteousness in the past does not guarantee a safe future if we turn away from God now. It is a call to be in a constant, loving, and active relationship with Him today.

​The Internalized Law

In Matthew 5, Jesus takes this concept of inward transformation deeper. He raises the bar, telling us that our righteousness must exceed that of the religious elite. He moves beyond the outward act of murder to the inward sin of anger and contempt.

​Unresolved Anger: Jesus equates hidden rage or treating others as "worthless" with severe spiritual judgment.

​Reconciliation Over Ritual: Jesus gives a stunning command: If you are at the altar and remember a conflict, leave your gift. Go and be reconciled first.

​Connecting the Lessons

​Stop the Blame Game: Just as the Israelites blamed their ancestors, we often blame our circumstances or upbringing for our struggles. God calls us to take personal responsibility and turn to Him for a "new heart."

​Make Things Right Today: The "turn" in Ezekiel is made practical in Matthew. If we hold grudges or bitterness, we must turn from them immediately. God does not want our worship if it is offered while we harbor hatred against a brother or sister.

​Identify the "sour grapes" in your life—those past hurts you are still chewing on. Reconcile quickly. Do not wait for the "perfect time." Jesus commands us to make it right now. God does not want to punish us; He wants us to live!

​The Promise of Grace

Romans 8:1-2 says, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”

​Take a moment to look around your life. We are sinners who stumble daily. Yet, when we confess and ask Jesus to forgive us, we find that we already belong to Him. Because we belong to Him, He is faithful to forgive. Of course, if we choose to walk away and wallow in sin, we must return and reconcile with Him again.

​This is why daily prayer for forgiveness is so vital. We are imperfect, and sometimes our "humanness" gets in the way. We know "slew-foot" (Satan) is always lurking, hoping we will stumble. But the joke is on him! We may stumble, but with our Triune God, we have the strength to rise again. With the support of the Saints praying for us, we can all succeed in walking the path of life.

​A Prayer for Renewal

​Lord, search my heart today. Remove any bitterness, anger, or hypocrisy that separates me from You and my neighbor. Give me a new heart and a new spirit, that I may walk in Your ways. Let me be a help to those around me. Use me Lord as your hands and feet.  This I ask in Jesus precious name, Amen!

​The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

​BELIEVE, OBEY, BE BLESSED, AMEN. BOBBA

Love, Penny

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