“You, son of man, are the watchman. I’ve made you a watchman for Israel. The minute you hear a message from me, warn them. If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked man, wicked woman, you’re on the fast track to death!’ and you don’t speak up and warn the wicked to change their ways, the wicked will die unwarned in their sins and I’ll hold you responsible for their bloodshed."
Ezekiel 33:1-8 The Message
These are tough times. Seems like an understatement, doesn't it? Think about the events of life over the last six months. And yes, the last few years. It's unbelievable. I cannot count how many times I've heard someone say, "If you had told me 20 years ago that this would happen, I'd have said you were crazy!" or at least something very similar to that statement. I've voiced it myself...
And yet these things are happening. We've become very adept at rationalizing. We endeavor to explain away the unexplainable or dismiss with disdain those events that don't directly affect "our four and no more". In our attempt to steel ourselves (in our own power) against the onslaught of the day-to-day fires of life, our hearts begin to harden. We no longer see the big picture. Yet, I'm starting to see a repeat pattern of those who don't hear, just as Christ described in Mark 4.
So, as Paul warned in Ephesians 5, I just have to say, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light. So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am sounding the alarm - Repent! We must change our evil ways!
Prayer:
Father,
Open our ears to hear You! Open our eyes of understanding to see what You are doing! Open our hearts to change the ways that seem right to us, but are not Your ways. Give us holy boldness to open our mouths to speak a warning that may save souls from an eternity without You. In Jesus' Name we pray.
These are tough times. Seems like an understatement, doesn't it? Think about the events of life over the last six months. And yes, the last few years. It's unbelievable. I cannot count how many times I've heard someone say, "If you had told me 20 years ago that this would happen, I'd have said you were crazy!" or at least something very similar to that statement. I've voiced it myself...
And yet these things are happening. We've become very adept at rationalizing. We endeavor to explain away the unexplainable or dismiss with disdain those events that don't directly affect "our four and no more". In our attempt to steel ourselves (in our own power) against the onslaught of the day-to-day fires of life, our hearts begin to harden. We no longer see the big picture. Yet, I'm starting to see a repeat pattern of those who don't hear, just as Christ described in Mark 4.
So, as Paul warned in Ephesians 5, I just have to say, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light. So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am sounding the alarm - Repent! We must change our evil ways!
Prayer:
Father,
Open our ears to hear You! Open our eyes of understanding to see what You are doing! Open our hearts to change the ways that seem right to us, but are not Your ways. Give us holy boldness to open our mouths to speak a warning that may save souls from an eternity without You. In Jesus' Name we pray.
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