S) "4 The Lord said to him, 'Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.'"
Ezekiel 9:4 (NASB)
O) This comes to us in the middle of the vision Ezekiel was given, of the wrath of God, and the destruction poured out in Jerusalem. Before sending out six destroying angels (vv.1-2), God has a seventh who receives the above instruction. The LORD is forever faithful. His desire is to find people with whom He can show Himself merciful. Just as in the first Passover, before the Exodus, and just as in Sodom, with Abraham pleading for Lot's family, the first action of our Father God is to look for someone to redeem. Notice, God didn't even say to look for righteous people. He knew that the sins of the people were great. He was looking for someone who was grieved by sin. Notice that this isn't an example of moral relativism, though. This is pass-fail. This test had a low bar, but God still had a standard to receive this mark.
A) Through Jesus, we have the forgiveness of sins, cleansing of the guilt, and righteousness of the Christ placed upon us, through faith. While there is still temptation to sin, and in fact failure to resist that temptation, there is also perfect forgiveness. God calls us to be holy as He is holy, but knows that sin will still be a stumbling block, sometimes often. So, I strive to walk in purity, but when I fall, I repent and get back up and come back to my loving Father. What God wants, then, is to see that struggle, that striving, against sin. When I fail, I hate it. I hate when I lose a fight to sin. I groan over my own abominable sins. I sigh a heavy, heart-sick sigh when I choose sin over His glory, because hindsight is 20/20, and I can clearly see the foolishness of my forfeit. Thankfully, the mark that is upon me, as a believer in Christ Jesus, that mark is The Mark, the seal of the Holy Spirit upon me (see Ephesians 1:13).
P) Father, forgive me for my sins. Strengthen me in my fight to honor Your grace and mercy. Guide me with the Holy Spirit, to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel, worthy of my Lord, according to Your Word. Let me bear Your mark, and honor You in humble submission to Your will . In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
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