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just one sin, just one prayer

Ezekiel 33:12-16 (JDV)

Ezekiel 33:12 “Now, son of Adam, say to your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous person will not save him on the day of his rebellion; neither will the guilt of the guilty person cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his guilt. The righteous person won’t be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he fails.
Ezekiel 33:13 When I tell the righteous person that he will surely live, but he trusts in his righteousness and acts unjustly, then none of his righteousness will be remembered, and he will die because of the injustice he has committed.
Ezekiel 33:14 ” ‘So when I tell the guilty person, “You will surely die,” but he repents of his failure and does what is just and right –
Ezekiel 33:15 he returns collateral, makes reparation for what he has stolen, and walks in the prescriptions of life without committing injustice – he will certainly live; he will not die.
Ezekiel 33:16 None of the failures he committed will be held against him. He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.

just one sin, just one prayer

We all know people who have lived upright lives, only to fail later on. It is a tragedy, but it highlights a truth that Ezekiel teaches here. No one is going to be saved by his or her track record. Just one sin can ruin a life. Just one prayer can rescue a life.

LORD, every day we seek you afresh. We need your forgiveness and renewal.