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repentance begins here

Ezekiel 18:10-13 (JDV)

Ezekiel 18:10 “But suppose the man has a violent son, who sheds blood and does any of these things,
Ezekiel 18:11 though the father has done none of them. Indeed, when the son eats at the mountain shrines and defiles his neighbor’s wife,
Ezekiel 18:12 and when he oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery and does not return collateral, and when he looks to the idols, commits repulsive acts,
Ezekiel 18:13 and lends at interest or for profit, will he live? He will not live! Since he has committed all these repulsive acts, he will certainly die. His death will be his own fault.

repentance begins here

If someone had an unfortunate experience, people in Ezekiel’s day would be quick to assume that it was a result of a curse being put on that someone, perhaps because of some distant offense by a member of his family. Ezekiel discourages that kind of thinking. It is important for each individual to look first at his own life. Repentance begins here — at personal recognition of one’s own failure.

LORD, open our eyes to the ugly reality of our own sin. May our repentance be sincere and complete.