How can we apply Ezekiel 18:6 to modern-day moral challenges? Setting the Text in Front of Us “ ‘He does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period.’ ” (Ezekiel 18:6) Idolatry Then, Idolatry Now • In Ezekiel’s day, “mountain shrines” meant literal pagan sites. • Today, idols show up as money, status, entertainment, politics, technology, even family when loved more than God (Colossians 3:5). • Applying the verse means actively refusing anything that competes with the Lord’s supremacy. – Delete a tempting app, unsubscribe from immoral media, or turn off news cycles that stir fear instead of faith. – Redirect time, energy, and finances toward worship, service, and generosity (Matthew 6:24, 33). Sexual Integrity Within Marriage • “He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.” God still guards marriage fiercely (Hebrews 13:4). • Modern parallels: adultery, emotional affairs, flirting, and porn all violate covenant faithfulness (Matthew 5:27-28). – Put protective fences around your marriage—shared passwords, clear boundaries with coworkers, date-night habits, and quick confession when temptation appears. – Speak well of your spouse in public and private; praise crowds out wandering thoughts. Guarding Personal Purity • “Or approach a woman during her period” underscored ceremonial holiness. While the Mosaic regulation no longer binds Christians (Acts 15:10-11), the principle of honoring God-given boundaries remains. • Respect bodily integrity and consent, reject sexual exploitation in any form, and treat every person as an image-bearer (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7). • For singles, purity involves patient trust that God’s design for sex is worth the wait. For married couples, it means mutual honor and self-giving love (1 Corinthians 7:3-5). Practical Daily Steps • Start each morning by surrendering desires, devices, and decisions to Christ. • Memorize or post verses that confront specific temptations (Psalm 119:11). • Choose friends and media that reinforce holiness rather than erode it (Proverbs 13:20). • Engage in a small group or accountability partnership; secret sin loses power when exposed to light (James 5:16). • When you stumble, confess quickly, receive Christ’s cleansing (1 John 1:9), and move forward in obedience. Hope Anchored in the Gospel Ezekiel 18:6 paints a picture of the righteous life God requires. Christ fulfilled that standard perfectly, then credited His righteousness to all who believe (2 Corinthians 5:21). Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we now say no to idols and sexual sin and say yes to joyful, holy living that points the watching world to the Savior who still transforms hearts today. |
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