GO AND TELL

Today's reading: Ezekiel 1-6


"I am not sending you to some foreign people whose language you cannot understand. No, I am not sending you to people with strange and difficult speech. If I did, they would listen! I am sending you to the people of Israel, but they won't listen to you any more than they listen to me! For the whole lot of them are hard-hearted and stubborn. But look, I have made you as hard and stubborn as they are. I have made you as hard as a rock! So don't be afraid of them or fear their angry looks, even though they are such rebels." Ezekiel 3:5-9

Who immediately came to you mind when you read about the hard-hearted and stubborn people God was sending Ezekiel out to witness to? Did a co-worker's face pop into your head? Did that dreaded customer show up on the screen of your heart? Was it a neighbor? A family member?

Someone who has a way of intimidating, consistently criticizing, embarrassing or un-nerving you? Someone whose very presence wipes all Christian thoughts and feelings from your heart? Someone who you believe Billy Graham himself couldn't affect for the Lord?

Will you come in contact with them today? No, I'm not attempting to ruin your day with the thought of them, I'm wanting to encourage you with God's Word.

God has made you stronger and more stubborn than the other guy! Now some of you are not surprised in the least to find that the stubborn streak you've noticed in yourself has been noticed by the Lord. Thrilled to find out He could use that characteristic, but not surprised that it's been noticed.

But some of you aren't really sure--of mice and men, you tend to be the 'squeakier' of the species. Your temperment is shall we say--demure, shy, quiet, laid back, unimposing? You don't rock the boat, you aren't noticed among the crowd, rarely if ever will you be seen up front--and certainly not heard. News flash: You are not exempt from proclaiming His truths to the world!

He has written in His Word encouragement for His children. He is wanting you to know that 'what' He has called us to do (testify to his greatness and His saving power), He has enabled us to do--even among the most hard-hearted and stubborn people we know.

He knows the opposition you'll face on a daily basis, some from outside and some from within, but He has equipped you for the task! So, go and tell!!