Day 233

Ezekiel 20:1-22:16.  “Preventing Decay”

         One of the aspects of the dictionary definition for “restore” is “to recover from ruin or decay.”  The importance of that spiritually is enormous.  Restoration is expressed throughout Scripture, and the facet of its recovering something from decay is foundational.  We are ruined and decaying because of sin, and we need the salvation that Jesus Christ offers.  Even as believers, each day we must strive to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.  We need to avoid following the desires of our old sinful nature (Gal. 5).  If we choose to go down that road we will be in need of some restoration.  In today’s passage the people were in need of a purging, a cleaning (20:38).  And even at that, there was hope in the end.  God said, “When I bring you home from exile, you will be as pleasing to me as an offering of perfumed incense” (20:41).  God cleanses thoroughly.
         “Wash me clean from my guilt.  Purify me from my sin… Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”  Psalm 51:2, 7

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?