June 11, 2023
Passage Read: Ezekiel 36-39
Meditation Verse: 36:32
Thought
The Lord was put to shame by the conduct of the Israelites. When he drove them out of the land, the people where they went all recognized that they were the people of the Lord, but had to leave their land. It made the Lord look weak, like He couldn't protect His people, or else He couldn't lead them to live righteously. They were an embarrassment to Him, because of their conduct and His need to discipline them. So He made clear to them that He was going to save them for His own name's sake. They would benefit, of course, being brought back to their land and becoming a people who obeyed the Lord, but the Lord would do that good to them for the sake of His own reputation--in spite of them! They would and should be ashamed of their conduct, even though the Lord saved them and blessed them.
Application
This is what we miss, what we willingly overlook in the Gospel. We think it's all about us: we were bad, but now we're loved, we're great, we're terrific! But if we really understood the Gospel and God's motive, we would be shocked and amazed that He would do anything good for us. The Gospel shouldn't make us proud or arrogant, like we're something special, but make clear to us that we didn't deserve an ounce of His kindness, but received it in spite of us. It should result in shame and embarrassment over our treatment of the Lord, and a humble diligence to make up for our past treatment of Him. Overwhelming gratitude for an incredible mercy we didn't in any way deserve. He saved me for His own name's sake, when all I deserved was judgment and destruction. I have nothing to be proud of, but plenty to be ashamed of as I stand saved for no good reason at all, except God wanting to make His name glorious.