SWHW Bible Reading Plan: September 2021Sample

Top Takeaway from Joni Stepp

Ezekiel has just finished laying out God's judgment for Israel, due to Israel’s blatant idolatry and turning from the ways of God. 

Then in Chapter 33:21, we see a fugitive from Jerusalem come to Ezekiel to tell him the city of Jerusalem has been struck down and destroyed. The temple of God was destroyed just as Ezekiel said.

At this moment in the book of Ezekiel, one cannot help but feel the despair. When you read how perverse and idolatrous the people had been, it would seem now that the children of God have finally gone too far and God is done with them forever.

But God.



But God, in His infinite grace exceeds even the worst sin.



But God, in His ultimate kindness still does not give what we deserve.

“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so I will seek out my sheep and I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness” - Ezekiel 34:11-12

This is what our God said about people who, in this same book, were called “rebels against God.”

He even goes so far as to say, 

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers and you shall be my people and I will be your God.” -Ezekiel 36:26-28

What kind of God who has been rebelled against, reviled, and forgotten; after keeping every promise to His people, turns around and says, “I’ll help. I’ll give you a new heart and a new spirit and I’ll put you back in your land and I will still be your God!” 

Our God. That’s who!

If there is anything the book of Ezekiel should remind you, it’s that you have never outsinned His grace, you are never out of His ability to reach you and God is for you, not against you. Even when you do not deserve it… and we never deserve it.

He is better than we can think.



He is for us more than we could imagine.



He is more loving than we can dream up.



His promises to idolatrous, rebellious people are forever proof of that. 

He deserves all of our honor and worship.

Father, You are more gracious than our human minds can comprehend. You are more forgiving than we are sinful. You are more loving than our hearts could ever hold. We do not deserve You, yet You love us and forgive us.  We love You, we love You, we love You. Amen.