Mon., 9/4/17 Devotion (Ezek. 7:27c)

Today's encouragement comes from Ezekiel 7:27c, where we read these words:

" . . . And according to what they deserve I will judge them; then they shall know that I am the LORD!"

God always judges "according to what [people] deserve.” Every sin gets ex-actly what it deserves: death. Everyone who goes to hell will receive precisely what they deserve—nothing more, nothing less. But thankfully, the Lord metes out death for sin in another way, as well. . . .

. . . And that is the way of gospel “substitution.” Regenerate churchmen *also* deserve death and hell—but Jesus bore it all for them (us) on the cross, and they (we) were spared. If this is *our* situation by grace through faith in Christ alone, then we have great cause to praise God for His amazing love and mercy.

[Puritan quote of the day: "God is doing a great work in the world, but God's ends are to make His people sweeter, like preserves, and preserve them for a longer time, and make them be more lasting in the world.” —Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]