The Jesus Bible Reading PlanНамуна

MORE ACCOUNTABLE

The entire Bible, from cover to cover, is the story of God’s plan to create a people, choose a people, transform that people and then work through his transformed people to change the world. God’s people are supposed to be like a light that shines into the dark world, but this passage reveals that the Israelites literally outdid the world in sinning. While the other nations worshiped idols, Israel left the One true living God to turn to idols — a choice that brought dire consequences. God judged them, and his judgment was harsh because his mercy to them had been unfathomable. Of all the people in the world, God chose to love these people in a special way. For them to forsake that love was unthinkable.

The judgments of God are always relative based on the level of light people have received. All people will suffer if they never hear of God; this is why God’s people are supposed to run to people with good news to share! At the same time, those who receive more are more accountable. Ezekiel 5:5 – 7 teaches about this enduring scriptural truth that Jesus repeated in his teaching: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” (Lk 12:48). If that was true for Israel, who spent their lives looking forward to Jesus’ arrival, how much more true is it of believers today who have the Holy Spirit?

Jesus, thank you for holding me accountable to the knowledge I’ve been given. Help me to live entirely surrendered to the Holy Spirit living within me. Amen.