Ezekiel 33:7-11
7 So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, “O wicked ones, you shall surely die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
10 Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel: Thus you have said: “Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?” 11 Say to them: As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
…whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.
We’ve all been there. One of our friends discovers a new exercise routine, or becomes gluten free, or takes up a new social cause. Now, every time we’re together our activity, eating habits, or behaviors are under a microscope. Our friend has found so much satisfaction in their new way of living that they want us to experience it as well. It’s easy for their passion to drive a wedge into our otherwise healthy friendship if we’re not careful. As my husband often says to me, “my enthusiasm will never match yours on this”.
When we hear a Word of caution or guidance from God, it’s easy to brush it aside, or to keep it to ourself. A big reason for that is that those promptings from God don’t usually come to us in big, dramatic ways. Most of the time, we just have a nagging sense that something isn’t right. Our conscience becomes unsettled to the point where we feel compelled to speak or act. Unfortunately, doubts pour in right on the heels of those promptings.
So, what do we do when that Word of God starts nettling us. We don’t want to be that friend who needs everyone to act, eat, and think exactly like they do. We also don’t want to moralize or be overbearing with those we love. The trick is to find ways within each relationship to speak God’s Truth clearly, but without judgment. It’s not easy, but God makes it clear that a Word once given becomes our responsibility to act.
Prayer: Lord God, you often ask a lot of me. Give me the gifts and the grace to speak Your Word without packing it up in my own “stuff”. AMEN