Friday, November 13, 2009

Sharing Christ in the Old Testament

Ezekiel 33:1-9 NKJV (www.biblegateway.com)
Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’

“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

Good morning!

So this passage in Ezekiel is telling Ezekiel to warn others about the coming dangers God is sending. The dangers in those days were God's revenge against the people of Israel: famines, enemies, war, et cetera. These dangers were sent to get the people to repent from their idolatry (which they then went back, to, but that isn't the point of this story).

God wants us to tell others about Him, and the dangers of what their actions will get them (Hell, basically.) We are each worthy of going to Hell. That includes me and you, which is why I remind you of this next verse.

Ephesians 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ-

We need to speak the truth in love. When we tell others about God, we need to say it in love. (kindness, stays long, isn't jealous, isn't prideful, isn't rude, thinks no evil, rejoices in the truth, and bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things). We can't be all 'You're wrong, I'm right, because Jesus loves you, you dirty rotten little sinner!' We have to say something more like, 'this is what I believe, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, because He loves us and wanted us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven...'

So what did we learn today? God tells us, like He told Ezekiel, to be a watchman (watch woman) and warn the people all about God's punishments. But He also tells us to do this in love, with kindness and patience.

Have a happy and blessed Friday the 13th!
In His Service,
Joyce

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