ESOCS Devotional 19 July 2022
TEXT: EZEKIEL 3:12-27
MEMORY VERSE: “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.” Ezekiel 3:17 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
God told Ezekiel whenever he heard a word from Him, he was to warn the people. He didn’t give him the option of picking and choosing which message to give and which to withhold. Every word from God’s mouth to us has weight and should be heard by whomever God has chosen to receive it. We sometimes may pick and choose. God gives us a word or tells us to do something and we decide if we feel brave enough, we consider whether we think the person will receive it well, and then we decide if we’ll obey Him.
God isn’t giving us commands, telling us to go, speak, give, or stop for His entertainment. He is telling us for a reason. He chose us for a reason. And our response affects things. It affects the person we might help, and it affects us. God gives it because our brother needs to hear it. He chooses us because we are the ones whom that someone needs to interact with, and because He deemed us the most appropriate for the job.
Remember, their reaction or response is not your problem. They have free will, just like we do. But God wants them to hear His Word, know His Love, and see Him. If we refuse to obey, and they continue down the path of destruction, God is clear, their blood is on our hands. If we tell them, then the responsibility of their response is with them and our hands are clean. What is it that we are afraid of in telling someone God’s message? Do we love God enough to love His people the way He loves us? Do we love them enough to use our gifts and obey our Lord? If we can’t obey God out of love for Him and love for others, at least we should obey out of the fear of their damnation on our heads.
I pray that each of us really does obey the most important commandments of God’s commands as quoted by Jesus in Mark 12:29-31. It may seem pretty severe to keep a man bound and mute except when he is doing or speaking for God. But God often used the prophets and circumstances as clear illustrations for His people. He wanted Ezekiel to only speak His words, to only go where He told him to go, and to only do what He told him to do. Ezekiel could only do God’s work by God’s power. It was obvious to the people who heard him because unless God was speaking through him, Ezekiel couldn’t speak. Remember it is God’s power you display, His love, His will, and His words you speak.
My Brothers and Sisters, I encourage you to listen to the Lord well and obey Him immediately. Let’s stop arguing with Him and just trust Him. Let’s love people wholeheartedly enough to be willing to give them the chance to respond and choose life. Let’s trust God and see what He will do.
- What will it take you to be God’s watchman?
- Lord, let my love for you motivate me to always speak your word to the people.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Numbers 14:1–10; John 13:12–20; 1 Timothy 5:17-25
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ESOCS Devotional 19 July 2022
