OCTOBER 24: “ABUSE OF LOVE”

It is one thing to be loved it is another to respond appropriately. Ezekiel the Prophet painted the pitiable condition of the people of Jerusalem whom God’s love prompted Him to rescue from that state. Unfortunately, rather than appreciate the glorious work of God and reciprocate the good gesture with a loving commitment to God, the people got conceited, over-estimated their new status and used it to sell themselves to Canaanite idols as a prostitute would do to different clients.

Jerusalem became completely blind to the state she was in when God picked her up – she quickly forgot all that she was like because of the glory that God put on her. By the perspective of heaven, the people of Jerusalem were a mere weak, bloody and messy wretch, barely alive. In spite of what they thought about themselves, they were helpless. Unfortunately, they did not see themselves that way; the same way man does not seem to see himself as a sinful wretch. Man without God always judges himself in comparison to others. He thinks, I am not as bad as so and so, therefore, he considers himself good – see 2 Cor. 10:12. Paul says that those who compare themselves with themselves are not wise – see also Rev. 3:17.

Beloved, learn from Paul who said, “I am what I am by the grace of God – Rom 15:10, and do not let what God has made of you to become a snare on your way or puff you up such that you have an exaggerated estimation of yourself and ascribe the glory to yourself. To do so is sin and leads to rebellion and spiritual prostitution. God saved Jerusalem for Himself, and in the same way, He saved you that you may be His own and that you may live for him. Is there anything God has blessed you with that has rather kept you far from Him? Meditate on this.

PRAYER: Ask God to help you to do a good evaluation of yourself in the light of His glorious love for you, and check what your response has been.