God-Given Responsibility
Ezekiel 3:17, "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 is given a great responsibility by the Lord. God has called him to be a watchman unto the house of Israel. He had already been told that his ministry would be to those of the captivity and not to those who spoke a different language (Ezekiel 3:4-5). He was in Babylon doing the work of God. Are you doing the Lord's work or are you living a life filled with selfish pleasure? May we all be serious about our relationship with God, and serve Him according to His purposes.
With responsibility comes marching orders. God directs Ezekiel about what is involved in being a watchman.
First, Ezekiel had to hear what the Lord was saying to him. "...therefore hear the word at my mouth..." It doesn't matter much what we say, except it be sent to us from God. Communication is important but we must first know what to communicate and we can't communicate what is really important without hearing from God through His Word.
Next, he was told, "...and give them warning from me." God warns in love and mercy. Have you ever thought about that? Often times people ignore warnings, thinking they have life under control, but such is never the case. God is in control, and part of that which He controls is judgment and/or blessing. If we heed God's warnings He will respond to us in mercy. If we ignore God's warnings and continue to live in sin, He will respond to us in judgment. Israel had learned this first hand.
May we live today being faithful in our God-given responsibilities, making sure to do the things God commands. Living before the Lord with a tender heart in obedience to Him is one of the most important things in your Christian life.
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
MEDITATIONS
1. Take a moment and make a list of God-given responsibilities for every Christian.
2. Is there anything God has impressed upon your heart as responsibility for you personally? What have you done to actively perform that responsibility?
3. Is there anything preventing you from doing what God desires of you? If so, how do you plan to get rid of the hindrance?