Ezk. 18:19-23
"Yet you say, 'Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?' When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
"But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?"
As a sidebar, this section eases the pain of parenting when the child or children chose evil over God. All the parenting in the world cannot change the heart that is bent on doing evil. But the neat thing is that God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He offers abundant grace and mercy which is especially meaningful to the parent whose child refuses to follow God. God takes no delight in the death of the wicked. He wants all to respond to His love. God simply says, "So turn and live." With God there must be a turning to live. A choice must be made.
Father,
Thank You for drawing me to You so that I can be Your child. Help me to shine out to those still trapped within the confines of evil. Let me be Your light to show them the way.
In Jesus name,
Amen
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