Imagine standing on the bank of a river at a sharp bend in the river. From your vantage point, you can see many pleasure boats loaded with passengers reveling in a party-like atmosphere. But from your vantage point, hidden to the boaters, you can also see a large waterfall with a precipitous drop that will prove deadly to anyone going over. What will you do?
Such is the predicament of the people of God - we see the reality of today as well as the impending judgment for the unprepared. And exactly what we do is a formidable challenge.
"Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me" (Ezekiel 3:17 NASB)
We are the watchmen of our day. Like Ezekiel the prophet, we are entrusted with God's word in these closing days of human history. The storm clouds of the great apocalypse are gathering on the horizon, and yet few see them. As those who see clearly, and who hold out God's gracious invitation, we know that time is short for the unprepared. While our excitement grows at the prospect of the realization of our hope, even as we groan during the difficulties of the last days, we are all too aware of the awful impending reality for the unresponsive.
Like Ezekiel, and many of prophets of God, the message of God often falls on deaf ears. But responsiveness is the responsibility of the hearer, not the messenger. Ezekiel was absolved of all personal liability if he faithfully proclaimed God's message (Ezekiel 3:18-21). And so it is with us: if we have clearly proclaimed it to those within our sphere of influence, we have discharged our duty.
Although less personal, today;s electronic media offers inexpensive access to a limitless audience. Creating a blog, such as I do with these devotionals, can be done in a matter of minutes by even the most inexperienced computer user. And who doesn't have access to an email list of friends and family? These tools allow each of us to write and declare God's invitation and warning to all we know.
We are the watchmen of our day. God has invited us to "feed on His word" (Ezekiel 3:1-3), and then proclaim it to our contemporaries. It is a duty to be performed, but more importantly, it is driven by a burden for the salvation of those we love. May that burden today give rise to an urgency to bring His message to all we love and know.
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
Such is the predicament of the people of God - we see the reality of today as well as the impending judgment for the unprepared. And exactly what we do is a formidable challenge.
"Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me" (Ezekiel 3:17 NASB)
We are the watchmen of our day. Like Ezekiel the prophet, we are entrusted with God's word in these closing days of human history. The storm clouds of the great apocalypse are gathering on the horizon, and yet few see them. As those who see clearly, and who hold out God's gracious invitation, we know that time is short for the unprepared. While our excitement grows at the prospect of the realization of our hope, even as we groan during the difficulties of the last days, we are all too aware of the awful impending reality for the unresponsive.
Like Ezekiel, and many of prophets of God, the message of God often falls on deaf ears. But responsiveness is the responsibility of the hearer, not the messenger. Ezekiel was absolved of all personal liability if he faithfully proclaimed God's message (Ezekiel 3:18-21). And so it is with us: if we have clearly proclaimed it to those within our sphere of influence, we have discharged our duty.
Although less personal, today;s electronic media offers inexpensive access to a limitless audience. Creating a blog, such as I do with these devotionals, can be done in a matter of minutes by even the most inexperienced computer user. And who doesn't have access to an email list of friends and family? These tools allow each of us to write and declare God's invitation and warning to all we know.
We are the watchmen of our day. God has invited us to "feed on His word" (Ezekiel 3:1-3), and then proclaim it to our contemporaries. It is a duty to be performed, but more importantly, it is driven by a burden for the salvation of those we love. May that burden today give rise to an urgency to bring His message to all we love and know.
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
posted by steve @ 8:32 AM
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