Ezekiel 2:7

Ezekiel 2:7
“You must speak My words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen…”

Think of the most hardened, agnostic person you know, and happily tell them the Gospel! Feeling warm and fuzzy yet?

Think of your most difficult, uncooperative child and, at the height of one of their ungrateful rants, graciously bestow on them God’s blessing. Easy, right?

Think of the most self-righteous, hypocritical buttinski in your church circle, and lovingly reproach them for their duplicity and high-mindedness. That’s right; you’re feelin’ it now, huh?

“You must speak My words to them whether they listen or fail to listen…” Our Heavenly Father goes on to tell the prophet Ezekiel that if he tells the people and they fail to listen, they are accountable for their own iniquity, while he has saved his soul. But, if he fails to tell them, and they continue to sin, their sin is on his head.

Wow. So what does that look like – having a spiritual discussion with someone who really doesn’t want to hear it, or maybe worse, feels they’ve mastered it? Speaking from experience, UGLY; but we’re not in the business of saving souls, just proclaiming the Gospel through words and deeds. I’m not negating the use of God-given common sense mind you, but when God presents an opportunity we need to obey no matter how uncomfortable or inconvenient the situation. Besides, He’s God; He knows the heart, and He has prepared the hardest of soils for planting.

Motivated By...

Picture, if you will, a mom, arms laden with laundry, headed to the basement, resigned to a long stay.  Someone starts after her with a dirty pair of socks.  "Give them to me," she says, "I'm headed down anyway."  She struggles to carry more.  This scene happens twice more before she reaches her destination.  Why?  Why does she do it?  Love?  Maybe.  She's a mom; she undoubtedly loves her family very much.  But, if she's a busy mom like me, she probably doesn't want others underfoot while she's trying to take care of business.  While she loves, accomplishment and rest may be her motivation.

Now, the fighter in the ring with a new sparring partner.  "C'mon!  Give me more!  Hit me!"  Why?  Love?  Not likely.  He wants to be tested and strengthened.  He wants to feel the exhilaration of resisting each blow, standing strong when others would crumble, boosting his confidence.  Boosting his ego.

The shopper.  I watched yesterday as a man literally dumped an armload of groceries out onto the table next to the register.  "Guess you should have gotten a cart," said the shopper behind him.  "I do it every time," he replied.  I stood there smirking, knowing I'd never be able to tally the number of times I've walked into Sammy's for a pound of cheese, and waddled my way to the register looking like lunchmeat Jenga.  Love?  Of lunchmeat, maybe, but not really.  Unpreparedness, lack of discipline?  Most likely.

Lastly, Christ on the cross.  Burden after burden laid upon Him.  All the while whispering, "No, don't hold that back from Me.  Give it up.  I can take it."  Multi-tasking mom, longing for chores to be done -- lay it down.  Fighter, suffering to prove something to those who have ridiculed, doubted -- lay it down.  Shopper -- determined to adhere to the boundaries this time -- lay it down.  Christ can take it, every bit of it.  He is prepared to take it, no matter how heavy or disheartening the load.  Christ wants to take it.  Not because He "would have been there anyway," not for His gratification and edification, not because of anything He did or failed to do.  But out of Love.

Best Service Call... EVER!

Verizon Employee:  How may I help you today?

Me:  On my most recent bill, it seems I was charged for an "adult feature," at 9:28PM on New Year's Day.

VE:  And no one purchased an adult feature on that day?

Me:  No one has purchased an adult feature on any day, and I'm sure on that day, at that time, I was probably sitting right in front of the TV, watching with my family -- it was New Year's Day!

VE:  Well, hang on a minute and let me see just who was bringing in the New Year like that!

(After some chit-chat, a couple of apologies for the wait, and a few "mmm...nope"s -- "Oh, looks like we got somethin' here")

Me:  Huh?!

VE:  Oh, yeah.  What time did you say?

Me: 9:28

VE:  Yep, 9:28.  Sure it is! Y'all rented the Wild Stallion.  How old are your girls?

Me: (laughing hysterically)  The Wild Stallion?  The Wild Stallion was the movie with that iCarly girl, the one about a wild stallion --

VE:  mm-huh

Me:  No, a real wild stallion!

VE: Y'all doin' the New Year up wild!  You just made my day!  I can't even cut off the call, I'm laughin' so hard...

(Much thanks to that courteous, personable Verizon operator who gave me a great laugh!)

A Priceless Lesson -- For Only Forty Bucks!

"One-o-Five," the teller mumbled under her breath. 

"One-o-five?" I thought, "I know it can't come to more than sixty-five or so."  I recalculated in my head as she handed me the envelope.  A quick glance told me there was more than sixty-five.  "If I don't actually look in the envelope, do I get a pass?" I wondered.

I walked out of the bank thinking how I could have used an extra forty bucks, wondering if they could have ever traced it back to my account and sadly, not feeling the least bit haughty about handing the extra cash back; I was too busy feeling crappy about considering the deception in the first place.

Why would I think of it?  God knows I heard her mumble.  God knows I glanced at least four twenties when she handed me that envelope.  Why would I worry about "man's" consequences before God's?  Why would I fear some sort of "financial karma" from God before I just simply sought to please Him?

Because I am human.  Because I am sinful.  Because my good deeds will never "earn" me a place at God's side, a blessing, another year of marriage, another dime, a healthy child...  Because God gives us the conviction of the Holy Spirit - in many different ways - out of love and understanding, out of His knowledge of who we are and who He is growing us to be.  Because I would place as many "reality checks" as I could in the paths of my children to keep them from erring, not because I fear their disobedience signals a lack of love for me, but because I love them.