July 6
‘He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.’ Titus 3:5a
Bible reading: Ezekiel 36:25-32 (Go to the Bible passage)
From the very beginning of Christianity, there have been people who - in their fondness of rules - have tried to develop systems to achieve a higher degree of holiness. For people who do not truly want to bow down before King Jesus it is surely tempting to try to ‘master’ God. There are those who claim that one must first know the depths of wretchedness before…
These people are terribly dangerous, for they have already misled so many by these and other theories. After all, by all these statements people are distracted from the Lord Himself. And - though it may sound silly - in a way it is even alluring to indulge in wretchedness if that can result in getting in God’s good graces.
Fortunately, the truth is quite different. God has mercy on whom He wants, in a way that pleases Him. His grace knows no boundaries, for He commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). But the problem is: we, people, are not easily convinced that repentance is necessary.
God is the Beginning and the End for everyone, including anyone who is lost in sin and needs salvation. Who bows down in faith and submits to the word of God - as it reaches us today by the prophet Ezekiel - will see the infinite greatness and faithfulness of God, and will look upward. Then he will see the wonderful light that can only come from the Father of the heavenly lights.
‘I will… I will,’ says the Lord.
How wonderful, that praise and weeping then truly belong together! Firstly praise, because of God’s compassion and the works He does in us, and after that weeping and shame, because of ourselves.

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