Good morning, today is Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Have you ever thought, “That’s just the way my family is?” We may inherit habits or tendencies, but God reminds us that we’re not imprisoned by them. He gives us the beautiful gift of free choice, and Ezekiel reminds God’s people of this. Let’s take a look..
Today's Reading:
Ezekiel 17,18,19; Revelation 7
Scripture
“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:30–32)
Observation
In Ezekiel’s day, many believed God punished people for the sins of their fathers and grandfathers. But God makes it clear: each person is accountable for their own life and choices.
Romans 5:12 reminds us that sin entered the world through one man, and we all share in that brokenness. Yes, we may inherit tendencies from our families, but we are not condemned by their sins. God sees us, calls us to repentance, and invites us to live with a new heart and spirit.
Our natural response when things go wrong is to blame those before us—for what they did or didn’t do, said or didn’t say. But God calls us instead to take a daily “sin assessment”: Have I drifted? Do I need to repent? Returning quickly to Him keeps us from downfall and renews our hearts.
Application
When I worked with at-risk youth in Hawaii, I asked a group of young men what they wanted to be when they grew up. In a gang-like fashion, they began naming the local and federal prisons on the island. Their fathers and grandfathers were there, so they assumed that’s where they would end up.
It broke my heart to see them so convinced their destiny was sealed. But God’s Word says otherwise: what feels like destiny is often just tendency. Though patterns may be real, every man and woman has a choice. God offers a new heart and a new spirit to all who repent and turn to Him.
As a parent, this is a wake-up call for me. I need to repent quickly and daily, allowing God to renew my heart and spirit. That renewal becomes a gift to my children, my family, and everyone around me.
Prayer
Dear Lord, Thank You for being a loving, caring, and just God. Help me take responsibility for my own walk with You, repent quickly, and live in the new heart and spirit You provide. May my life be a testimony that tendencies do not define destiny. Amen.
-Aaron Cordeiro