Day 59

God really hates sin.

This became powerfully real to me the first time I read Ezekiel 4:12. 

And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight.

I remember coming across this passage years ago and being completely struck by bewilderment. Did God really just tell Ezekiel to defile himself by baking his bread over human feces?! Yes he did...

Even a little toddler knows this is disgusting, and yet this is a picture of our sin. He commanded Ezekiel to do this in the sight of all men so that they would see it and it would be a sign to them. It's a sign of their own rotten wickedness and the resulting waste that comes from it.

Unfortunately, the world thinks that what is done in private is not known to the Lord (Just consider Ezekiel 8:7-12). But he will make even the most private sins a disgrace in our lives.

Nevertheless, the Lord is merciful, and when Ezekiel prayed that God should not make him to defile himself he responded with this: "Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow's dung for man's dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith."

I hope that you would not keep a private closet in your heart to store your favorite secret sins. God is not fooled. He knows the heart, nothing is hid from him. We have such a great opportunity to find his grace and mercy in repentance. The best part is we can come humbly repentant and he will graciously receive us.

Libertas Dei Gratia!

Jay Silvas