SWHW Bible Reading Plan: August 2021Sample

Top Takeaway from Lauren Diggs:

Are you ever sometimes reading Scripture and catch yourself thinking God might be acting a little harsh? It can be hard to read chapters like 32 and 33 of Ezekiel and see His justice and grace. Especially if you have the view that God is sitting on His throne with a big stick eagerly waiting to strike you down the second you mess up. 

That is the picture I had of God for such a long time, and it caused me to live a life trying to earn His favor and grace instead of accepting the perfect gift He’d sacrificed so much to give. This is why it’s so vital for us to focus on what we know about the character of God when we’re reading the Bible. 

“Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?’” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭33:11‬

As we see here and many other places throughout Scripture, God is not some harsh judge who finds pleasure in dealing out punishment after punishment upon us and others. We know God to be just and full of mercy. He is always moving and taking action on our behalf for our good and His glory. 

But God doesn’t only act justly; He is just. God doesn’t only give mercy; He is merciful. It’s who He is and what He does. And because of the cross, we can see that His justice in our lives is wrapped in grace, full of mercy. Everything He does is for our good because He is good. This is important to remember, especially when it doesn’t feel good.  

What we may see as suffering or a trial, God will work through to make us more like Him. What may even be His discipline is also a full display of Him pouring out more grace than we will ever deserve. All that God does or allows is part of this sanctifying, transformational process that makes us imitators of Jesus so we can love God, love others, and make disciples. 

There’s no mess up that He’s waiting to strike you down for. There’s nothing you can accomplish or do that will earn more of His love or approval. There’s only God, just and merciful, working in your life, so you become more and more like Jesus with every passing day. So lean in and live in that reassurance, sweet friend. 

Dear Heavenly Father, You are so good and just and holy. Thank You for always doing what is best for us even when we can’t see it. Forgive us when we turn away from You and to our own desires and pleasures. Thank You for Your unending grace that draws us back to You. Do whatever it takes in our lives to sanctify us into becoming more like Christ. We love You, Amen.