Living in the Spirit

September 13, 2023

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-11
So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked ones, you shall surely die’, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: ‘Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?’ Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?

In Hebrew, wicked means to be guilty of sin, either against God or humans—either breaking God’s laws or being a criminal*. English expands that meaning to include it being a violation of propriety**. In our society, the definition of sin means missing the mark. It is also defined as being separated from God. In any case, it is not good.

With that in mind and within the structure of the above scripture, how do we speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways? I do not respond well to people who get in my face and tell me I am going to hell if I do not change my ways, and, frankly, I do not know anybody who does respond well to such confrontation. On the other hand, when we observe someone involved in behavior that is harmful to themselves and even to others, what do we do? There are degrees of wickedness, and I think our willingness to do what is wrong expands as we start slowly and build bad habits.  While on a business trip, I took an older relative out to lunch while passing through the town where she lived. We had a good conversation, and I enjoyed the visit until the point we were preparing to leave, and she scooped all the packs of sugar in a container on the table into her purse. The surprise on my face must have shown, as she informed me the sugar on the table was for our use. She then slid out of the booth and headed for the door as I followed her out.

Being a good role model might be one way to deal with some of the “wickedness” in our world. At other times we may need to be forthright in our concern for another, truthful while not becoming a pest while continuing to walk with others as they face the challenges of their lives.

Prayer: Lord, help us first take the log out of our eye before we attempt to take the speck out of our neighbor’s eye ( from Matthew 7:3-5). Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7563.htm

**https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/sin

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.