Today’s Reading, Ezekiel 31-33
Focal Scripture: Ezekiel 33:7 ““As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, give them a warning from me.”
Looking out for others is an important task to be given. Not looking out for others can cause pain and unnecessary problems that people will have to bear. When you know something is wrong it is our responsibility to sound the alarm and watch out for people who could suffer irreparable damage. To be a watchmen means you will have to go against the grain. It means you will have to go against popular opinion. When you are looking out for others sometimes you have to sound the alarm before people are ready to hear that a problem is on the way.
In today’s reading we see that the Lord has made Ezekiel a watchmen over the house of Israel. When the Lord gives Ezekiel a word his job is to tell the people. It doesn’t matter if it is a word of judgement or praise. It doesn’t matter if it is positive or negative. Ezekiel’s job is to tell what God has commanded him to speak. His job is to be faithful even when others don’t want to hear the truth.
I am not going to lie to you being a watchmen today is not easy. It seems like everyone is complaining about every situation that arises. Personally, I will tell others and warn them when I see danger. To do this has come at great personal cost. I had a situation not long ago where I sounded the alarm over a very bad circumstance. I explained what was happening and how it was affecting others. However, the people who knew it to be true ignored the truth. They actually turned the warnings around and blamed me for the circumstance. Their decisions have lead to the coverup of spiritual problems. My job was to expose the truth it was the people’s job to respond.
I give that personal example because you will be tempted to not be a watchmen when the times arises. To speak truth will come at a great cost to you personally. You will be attacked. You will have lies told about you and your reasonings to expose problems. However, tell the truth no matter what happens. Know that the truth matters more than public opinion. Take heart that you have done everything possible to look out for others.
The book of Ezekiel has taught us that people will not reject the truth. They will be confronted with it directly and will choose a lie because it is more convenient. Just like Ezekiel our job is to give the truth and it’s the people’s job to respond accurately. So no matter what happens, be a watchmen for the people. Have the character to do what is right even when others don’t want that to happen. Be different than everyone else.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Ezekiel 34-36
