Monday September 23rd, 2019 Ezekiel 2:8-3:11
Mortal, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart and hear with your ears; then go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them. (verses 3:10-11)
Have you ever had the experience of talking to a child and feeling totally unheard? My two-year-old grandson is at the stage of testing the boundaries as he begins to assert his growing independence. A frequent message is, “No, you can’t do that. You’ll get hurt!” This won’t always stop him, and sometimes the message must be repeated again and again.
Ezekiel was commanded by God in this passage to go to the Israelites and speak to them. God knew that his people were stubborn and hard-headed, and might not listen. Still God loved them. And as we will do for our own children and grandchildren, God is willing to keep trying to get through to them.
God calls us to store God’s words in our hearts. Then we are to share what is in our hearts with those around us, “whether they hear or refuse to hear.” (Ezekiel 3:11) And as with Ezekiel, God will give us the strength to do so. How reassuring it is that we do not have to do this on our own!
God of hope, thank you that we do not have to be perfect to hear your words and follow your call. Amen. — JW
Contributed by Who’s talking?
Have you ever had the experience of talking to a child and feeling totally unheard? My two-year-old grandson is at the stage of testing the boundaries as he begins to assert his growing independence. A frequent message is, "No, you can't do that. You'll get hurt!" This won't always stop him, and sometimes the message must be repeated again and again.
Ezekiel was commanded by God in this passage to go to the Israelites and speak to them. God knew that his people were stubborn and hard-headed, and might not listen. Still God loved them. And as we will do for our own children and grandchildren, God is willing to keep trying to get through to them.
God calls us to store God's words in our hearts. Then we are to share what is in our hearts with those around us, "whether they hear or refuse to hear." (Ezekiel 3:11) And as with Ezekiel, God will give us the strength to do so. How reassuring it is that we do not have to do this on our own!
