Ezekiel_18

Scripture - What stood out?Ezekiel 18:4 For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.Observation - What does it say?Ezekiel chapter eighteen is an explanation of God through his prophet on just exactly how people will be judged by him. God lays out a very full explanation for the righteous person who turns to him will be saved, regardless of what the parent or the child does. And that the sinful person will die...regardless of what the parent or child does.Understanding - What does it mean?Doesn’t that suck?Essentially God is saying that we are powerless to save our loved ones! Right? I mean we can try as hard as we can to convince, cajole, and coax a person into giving their lives to Jesus but at the end of the day if their hearts are not right with God there is nothing we can do about it. How did my christian mom feel when she knew she had to let me choose between God...or not. 

I often think about my relationship with my mom, from the perspective of the widower single parent who continued to raise me. I often wonder when the right time to draw that line between child and adult should have been for me. I wonder where her responsibility for my salvation began and ended. I think for any parent or child who has family that are still lost sheep this is a source of great conflict. Where are the lines drawn between messenger of God, parent, child, family member and individual? When is enough enough? When is what you have done too little? Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?Ezekiel 18:20 The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.Lord as you have made it clear to me that we all have individual relationships with you I pray for wisdom and guidance. I pray that you help me to know when to press down on the gas and start feeding my loved ones as many bible verses as they can handle. I pray that you teach me when to just be there for them. Show me Lord how to teach others how to have relationship with you. And show me Lord, how to let go.  In the name of Jesus do I pray. Amen.