Ezekiel 2:8-3:11 (NRSV)
Ezekiel to eat the scroll
But you, mortal, hear what I say to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you. I looked, and a hand was stretched out to me, and a written scroll was in it. He spread it before me; it had writing on the front and on the back, and written on it were words of lamentation and mourning and woe.
He said to me, O mortal, eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. He said to me, Mortal, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it. Then I ate it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey.
He said to me: Mortal, go to the house of Israel and speak my very words to them. For you are not sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel - not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you. But the house of Israel will not listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me; because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. See, I have made your face hard against their faces, and your forehead hard against their foreheads. Like the hardest stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not fear them or be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. He said to me: 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. Say to them, "Thus says the Lord God"; whether they hear or refuse to hear.
DEVOTION
Today’s scripture is an invitation to bring GOOD NEWS to those who are closest to us. Now, I know that for some people this is the scariest thing in the world!
It is easy to be bold in our witness when we are talking to people who don’t know us and whom we do not know. It is so much harder to carry the GOOD NEWS to the very people who have watched us grow up and who have seen us at our best—and at our worst.
When we go to our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers bringing Law and Gospel, it can be extraordinarily scary. It is hard to tell people that sin is real and that it is deadly. Often, people feel that we have become “holy rollers” or “Bible thumpers.” They remind us that they remember when we didn’t know the Lord; they tell us that we think that we’re better than they are just because we have Jesus in our hearts.
My friend, do not run away from the hurtful words of your friends and family. In today’s scripture, God has promised to give us all that we need to endure the “hard-headedness” of our loved ones. God has advised us not to be fearful or dismayed; but, rather to continue to speak The Truth in love, humility, and compassion.
My friends, it is by our words—and our actions—that our family, friends, and neighbors will be loved into the arms of Jesus!
When we are teased, ridiculed, and abused, we must stand firm! Our love, witness, and prayers provide a covering for our loved ones as Spirit woos them to Christ!
As we do the work of Spirit, loving in word and deed, bringing the GOOD NEWS that God loves, gave, and saves, God is at work softening hearts and preparing minds to receive God’s Amazing Grace!
Evangelizing a loved one is different than evangelizing a stranger. When we go out to strangers and they will not receive the GOOD NEWS, we “shake the dust off our feet” and move on to the next town.
When the person we are seeking to love to Jesus is our husband, wife, brother, sister, mother, father, daughter, or son we do not have the luxury of “moving on.” Very often, these people live with us in our own homes!
Since this is true, we have no choice but to daily—and continually—be a light and witness for our loved ones, seeking to expose them to the love of God, which is revealed to us through Jesus’ death upon the cross. Through our kindness, good deeds, and fervent prayers, we must hold out faith that God will save the souls of those whom we treasure most.
Now, I’m not advocating picking at them until they’re driven to distraction or stark raving mad! No! No! But, I am saying that you always look for the “season of the open door.” You always seek opportunities to respectfully bring GOOD NEWS into every conversation and you never, ever give up hope!
Remember, one plants the seed, another waters it, but it is GOD who gives the increase (1 Cor 3:7)! You can’t save the soul of your loved one; but GOD can!
I believe that God is calling us to be faithful in our witness to our family and friends! God is reminding us to keep speaking The Truth even if our loved ones don’t appear to be listening!
I love Proverbs 22:6 which says, “train up a child in the way that s/he should go and when s/he is old, s/he will not depart from it.”
I have seen many-a-soul come to Jesus, long after Mama and Daddy and have gone on to glory! When they put all of their faith in Jesus it is usually with the declaration, “Mama was right…”
My friends, keep on singing, “Yes, Jesus Loves Me” to your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. You never know just when they will be reached with the GOOD NEWS message that God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life!
Now, Ain’ta That Good News?!
Would you like to put all of your hope in Jesus today? If so, please pray with me:
Dear God, I’ve grown up hearing that you love me and that Jesus died for me. For whatever reason, I didn’t truly believe it until now! Today, my soul says, "YES!" Today, I am putting all of my hope in Jesus. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. Please allow Spirit to fill me with love, joy, peace, hope for the future, and an attitude of gratitude that will be contagious to my family! Thank you for all the Christians you have used throughout my life to bring me GOOD NEWS; please help me to share it with others! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
SPECIAL NOTE
If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! I would be so honored if you would let me know about your decision by clicking “Yes” in the poll located at the top/right of today’s devotional! I am so happy for you! Happy Spiritual Re-Birth-Day!
Next steps: In response to what God did for you just now, let me suggest that you consider telling another Christian so that they can celebrate with you! Ask them to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand so that you can learn more about your new-found faith! Ask them to help you find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your new journey! You are already saved; now let God mature you by faith! Congratulations!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html
If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html
Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/
You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda
Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews
You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.
EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right!
Thanks for reading and please come again. Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to all of our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.
From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com
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