October 16
2018
Obedience
And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. “For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ “As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them. “And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. “You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” Ezekiel 2: 1-8
Ezekiel’s call wasn’t a bed of roses.
God was upfront with him.
God would give him a word to speak to the people of Israel, but they were a rebellious house and God made it clear that they may or may not hear the word that was to go forth.
God spoke of briars and thorns all in the same sentence as the call upon Ezekiel.
When God calls us, He doesn’t promise that every experience we have is going to be positive. Positivity is not the indicator of walking successfully in your call.
God tells Ezekiel the key to success.
Obedience.
Whether the people hear or do not hear, Ezekiel was told to not be like the rebellious house, but to be obedient in the call God had placed on him and to receive the word and then speak the word to the people.
And God didn’t send Ezekiel in unprepared.
“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.” Ezekiel 3:8-9.
God will equip us for the call He has called us to, just like he prepared and equipped Ezekiel.
Are you struggling in the call God has placed on you?
Are you struggling because your expectation doesn’t fit?
Remember 2 things:
1) God has placed, prepared and equipped you for what He has called you to;
2) all He requires is obedience!