August 31, 2017. Ezekiel 16-17.

 

 

47 You not only followed their ways and copied their detestable practices, but in all your ways you soon became more depraved than they. 56 You would not even mention your sister Sodom in the day of your pride, 57 before your wickedness was uncovered.

 

One of the easiest things to do is write someone off for all the wrong they have done and to dismiss the same behavior when it is aimed at yourself.  The people of Jerusalem experienced the same struggle.  The Lord says they completely ignored the nations of people that they saw as the most sinful.  They went on to mimic the behavior of those same people, and even became worse. 

Pride goes before the fall. By dismissing these people, you are simultaneously dismissing the reality that you are also susceptible to the power of the flesh to draw you into a similar situation.  We are all just one wrong decision from becoming the person we see as the most unforgivable.   So maybe it is someone’s political views, the way they act towards other races, or just the mistakes they have made that have caused you to write them off as “too lost” or “too messed up”, remember that God has not written them off; the same way He will never write you off.

No one wants to be associated with the most hated individuals, but those are the ones who need to be shown the love of God the most. Maybe you are missing out on an opportunity for God to use you in a mighty way. 

So whether you are the person letting your pride get in the way of ministering to those you see as more sinful, or if you are the person who feels like everyone is keeping their distance from you because of the mistakes you have made; God can restore you. 

Ezekiel 17:24 All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. “‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’”