Today’s Reading, Ezekiel 25-27
Focal Scripture: Ezekiel 25:1-2 “Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, face the Ammonites and prophesy against them.”
I have a list of pet peeves in my life. The first is when people smack food while they eat. It doesn’t matter if it is gum, food, or just the general smacking people do while putting items in their mouth. It drives me insane and gets on my nerves in a tremendous way. My second pet peeve is when people talk about others behind their backs. When people gossip and tear others down. I believe if you have something to say about someone it should be said directly to their face. I have meet a few people who would constantly talk about others behind their backs but when they were around them they would act another way. This is dishonest and is not a good testimony.
In today’s reading we see that the Lord commands Ezekiel to face the people and prophecy against them. This action is not done behind closed doors. It is not hidden to make others think one way or another. God wants the people to know he has something against them and that judgement is on its way. This requires Ezekiel to look at the people face to face. It means he can’t hide the message or be anonymous. Ezekiel has to be bold and face the people with uncomfortable truth.
Today’s devotion is about having character when you talk about people. It is about having face to face conversations that are genuine and honest. Unfortunately, most people like to say difficult things outside the presence of the people that should hear it in person. For example, I know of one person that would bad mouth others behind closed doors. Would complain about how they couldn’t do things correctly and even called them an enemy. However, this same person would talk about them positively to their face. They were unwilling to confront their problems with the people they complained about daily. They were scared of the consequences because they knew they were in the wrong.
The challenge we have as believers is to make sure if we have concerns or problems with others that we address them face to face. Talking about others behind their backs is cowardly. It also shows a major lack of integrity. Ezekiel doesn’t send a letter to the people, he looks at them face to face and says this is going to happen to you. He boldly declared the Lord’s message truthfully and lovingly.
What I desire for you to get from today is to have honest and bold conversations with people to their face. Don’t hide behind excuses. Also confront those who talk about others behind their backs. The person I spoke about earlier was confronted on numerous occasions by myself and others because of their speech. It never changed and they still treat people two different ways to this day. This is not the way believers should speak. We are called to have difficult conversations with people but it needs to be done to that person and not with others.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Ezekiel 28-30
