“Again, when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”
Ezekiel 3:20
Today’s devotional text reminds us of how God disciplines His people when they go against His commandments. There are significant dangers in turning to evil, and God’s discipline for His people differs from that of unbelievers.
In Ezekiel 3:20, God outlines one of the consequences for a righteous person who turns from a righteous life to do evil: God will place a stumbling block before them, and they will die.
One common reason why righteous individuals may turn to evil is due to mistreatment from others—they might have experienced wickedness from those they’ve been kind to. However, true followers of Christ should not change their character based on how others treat them. As Christians, we shouldn’t expect to be treated in the same way we treat people, nor should we be disheartened when we do good, and people respond with evil. Remember, our Lord Jesus Christ did good, and people repaid Him by crucifying Him on the cross, yet He didn’t abandon His righteous ways. As true believers, we should strive to emulate the lifestyle and patterns that Jesus exemplified.
Furthermore, God calls us to be vigilant as His children. God is displeased when we witness others straying from the right path and fail to take action. It is our responsibility as Christians to guide our fellow brethren so that they do not perish in their sins. If we fail to correct our brethren in love and they die in their sin, God will require their blood from us. Therefore, it is a sin when we sin someone going astray and we mock them. It is a sin when we know the path our fellows are taking leads to destruction, but we turn blind eye.
As believers, let us always live a life that is pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ, even in the face of adversity. We should not deviate from doing good because Jesus Christ can return at any moment.
Remember, we are called to be our brothers’ keepers.
Prayer
Father, help me lead a life that pleases You. Give me the strength to stand firm for You, regardless of how the world may treat me with evil. Lord, help me remain Yours until the day You return. I pray for the grace and wisdom to be a keeper of my brothers and sisters in Christ. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
This message serves as a reminder of God’s love and guidance in our lives. May it enrich your spiritual journey. Feel free to share your thoughts below, and for additional resources supporting your spiritual growth, click here.
Wishing you a wonderful day ahead!
