Being a Watchman
Ezekiel was commissioned by the Lord to be a watchman for the house of Israel. He was to deliver to them the words that God gave him to warn the people. (Ezekiel 3:17) This was a very important role for him to fill, and it carried great responsibility. I believe the same role applies to all believers today.
Once we become a follower of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. Therefore, we can see sin and truth clearly, since the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and leads us into all truth. The people who do not know the Lord can't see these things as clearly, so we must fill the role of a watchman to warn them of the dangers of sin and the consequences of not doing God's will. If we do not fulfill this responsibility, we will have their blood on our hands, just like God told Ezekiel. That means we will bear part of the blame for their sin, because of our failure to warn them.
This does not mean we have to be harsh or abrasive. In fact, it is the opposite. We are to lovingly warn the people around us with God's warning from His Word. It does not come from us, but from Him. Then, they have the choice to heed His warning or not. However, once we have warned them, we have fulfilled our responsibility to be watchmen.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 5-8.
Once we become a follower of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. Therefore, we can see sin and truth clearly, since the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and leads us into all truth. The people who do not know the Lord can't see these things as clearly, so we must fill the role of a watchman to warn them of the dangers of sin and the consequences of not doing God's will. If we do not fulfill this responsibility, we will have their blood on our hands, just like God told Ezekiel. That means we will bear part of the blame for their sin, because of our failure to warn them.
This does not mean we have to be harsh or abrasive. In fact, it is the opposite. We are to lovingly warn the people around us with God's warning from His Word. It does not come from us, but from Him. Then, they have the choice to heed His warning or not. However, once we have warned them, we have fulfilled our responsibility to be watchmen.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 5-8.