IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

A New Heart and a New Spirit

Date: Aug. 19, 2024

Passage

Ezekiel 18:19-32

19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. 20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

21 “But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? 24 But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26 When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Ezekiel 18:31

Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?

Our Creator God wants everyone to have life. Our God does not take any pleasure in the death of the wicked. He wants all people to turn away from sin and turn toward God, following his word. Repentance pleases God.

Many people live based on what is just and right in their own eyes. The Lord is just. Sin steals life from people, producing only death. The only way is to turn toward God. He wants us to have a new heart and a new spirit (31) and to put away our offenses. In his justice, Holy God accepts all who turn away from sin and come to him in their helplessness. Merciful God is pleased to forgive and takes pleasure in restoring life to the repentant sinner (32).

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving us a new way of the covenant through Jesus’ blood and creating in me a new spirit and a new heart. Help me to repent and walk before you.

One Word: Have a new heart and a new spirit

Daily Bread

Laws Regarding Property

Exodus 22:1-15

Key Verse: 22:14

“If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution.

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