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Have you ever been floored by what you felt God was calling you to do? Perhaps you shouted, “not me, Lord!” or maybe you just said “okay…but this is going to have to be all You because this is impossible for me!” Sometimes I wonder if the prophets of God we read about in the Bible ever felt that way. When the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, they seemed to speak with such strength and power, but then I remember—they too were human, just like us…
Ezekiel was one who had some pretty tough responsibilities. He must have had a strong RELATIONSHIP with the Lord to be able to say and do all he did for over twenty years—and a captive in Babylon on top of that! I wonder…what would you or I have done? God did not have a problem using Ezekiel—He obviously trusted this man to obey… What about you? or me?
God called Ezekiel to speak to his own people. At first that may seem easier than going to a foreign land, but God had some strong words for His people. Israel had gone way off the deep end and because of their sin, there were consequences—that is what Ezekiel was going to be telling his nation. But God prepared this man of God…He filled Ezekiel up with His Word and Ezekiel said it was “like honey in sweetness.” Ezek 3.3. But in spite of the familiar territory and people, God clearly explained: “Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me…they are impudent and hardhearted.” Ezek 3.7.
Because of this impossible responsibility, God further encouraged Ezekiel, “Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces and your forehead strong against their foreheads. Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house….receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. And go, get to the captives…speak to them and tell them…” Ezek 3.8-11. Ezekiel had things to say and do and he walked in the all God entrusted to him, strengthened to do it because of his RELATIONSHIP with God.
Has God given you impossible responsibilities to fulfill? Though difficult, it is also an opportunity to trust in God, leaning on Him, not your own understanding. It is a chance to watch God work through you in ways you cannot imagine! Like Ezekiel, depend upon God to thoroughly prepare you to walk in these responsibilities. The prerequisite?—a true RELATIONSHIP with Him!
God explained to Ezekiel that Israel’s response did not reflect on their personal RELATIONSHIP. And like Ezekiel, our responsibility is to do what God calls us to do too—in spite of weaknesses, the past, regrets or successes in life. When it comes to the bottom line of life, it always centers back down on this RELATIONSHIP—what have we done with all God has given us? How have we responded to Him? We just need to do what He calls us to do! That’s all!
PRAYER: Lord God, as I read through Ezekiel 3 and other passages I shake in my boots, yet I also long to serve You, to hear Your voice, to have the courage to say “Here I am” every time You speak. Father, today, this week, I choose to rearrange my priorities, my perspective on life. I choose to cease striving and trying to be someone I am not. Here I am, Lord…I want to draw near, hear Your voice. I choose to stop and pay attention to You, Holy Spirit, as You teach me and guide me in the way that I should go. Open my ears, Lord…please. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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