QT 7/6/2023 Ezek 16:4-14, Transformed by Grace

Ezekiel 16:4–14 (ESV) — 4 And as for your birth, on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. 5 No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born.

6 “And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ 7 I made you flourish like a plant of the field. And you grew up and became tall and arrived at full adornment. Your breasts were formed, and your hair had grown; yet you were naked and bare.

8 “When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine. 9 Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. 10 I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. 11 And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. 12 And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. 13 Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. 14 And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord God.

 

NOTE: The theme is repeated in scripture, that God chose Israel in his mercy and grace. He saved her, not because she was something special, she was not, but because he chose her. And his work caused this orphan girl to transform into a beautiful woman.

 

This is the picture of salvation for everyone saved by grace. We were not anything special. God in his grace and mercy chose us to hear the good news and respond. And from that point on, he has worked to transform us into beautiful and useful persons for the work of the kingdom. None of those saved were special -- Jesus makes us special. And for those who truly know Jesus, he is transforming our lives into more and more beauty.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I changing? If not, do I really know the savior who transforms ugly sinful creatures into beauty?

 

PRAYER: Father, as I finish another stage in my life, I want to continue to grow in grace and knowledge of you. In my retirement years, I want to continue to see you do your work of transformation.