Ezekiel 3:16-17

Most towns and cities in Ezekiel’s time were protected by thick walls. They lived with the continual possibility of attack and so the role of the watchman was crucial. When Nehemiah rebuilt the city of Jerusalem, watchmen played a central role because of the opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem the Arab. When the walls were fully rebuilt, watchmen were one of the first appointments that he made (Nehemiah 7:1). When God called Ezekiel to be a watchman, it was very clear what he was saying. He needed to fulfil the spiritual role of watching out for attacks against Israel and warn the people when they came.

The Church today has exactly the same role. Because of our love and care for our society, we need to be willing to speak the truth and warn others of the consequences of disobeying the Lord. This is a tough role, and we won’t often be thanked for performing it. Our responsibility is to ensure that, whatever we say, it is motivated by love. If we speak with anger or with an air of superiority, our words will never be heard.

But if people see that our warnings are driven by love and compassion, they may listen to what we are saying.

The role of watchman is one that we play for all the people that we love, too. When Paul wrote about “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), he was telling the Church that this was the only way in which they could grow. The truth will often be challenging, and sometimes it will hurt. But if we pass it on in a spirit of love, we can be sure that it will ultimately bring blessing.

QUESTION
In what situations are you needing to speak the truth in love at the moment?

PRAYER
Lord God, help me to become better at speaking the truth in love as I learn how much you love me. Amen

Released on 21 Jul 2023