The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover the lower part of your face or eat the customary food of mourners ." So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
I read this and later in the chapter God used his testimony to be an example to the people of Israel. Does God really take a servant through this much pain and suffering to be an example to others? Did Ezekiel really have to endure such hardships losing his wife in order to be an example to God's chosen people? Yes! Jesus did it with a blind man so that God's glory will be made known (jn 9:3). We live among people who need to follow someone's lead instead of just following commands.
I understand what God is telling me here but my selfishness is preventing me from acting. I know it's not about the temporary and to be used to further God's kingdom is amazing. So how would I go if I had to release a loved one into God's hands forever? How would I deal with the pain and agony? To be honest, I feel I would go through lots of emotional struggles until I allow the Holy Spirit to grant me peace... but this is only reactionary. How would I measure up to being told that this was going to happen in advance? Would I still allow God's work to be done to minister and change a nation or will I go kicking and screaming for God to choose someone else to do it? I realize that my faith is limited but God calls us only to have a little; mustard seed little. So I need to take small steps and be faithful with the little that I have so that He can entrust greater things for me.
Heavenly Father, absolutely all praises are to You! I can talk all day about our conversations but that does little. I need to be a person of action, not just good intentions. LORD God, I pray that You consume me with Your Spirit to overcome my laziness in this world. Pour into me a discernment to do Your commands not just agree. I pray that I can lead those around me into obedience, as Ezekiel did. Thank You for another day to win more over to You, my King. In the saving name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!
Ezekiel 24:15-18
I read this and later in the chapter God used his testimony to be an example to the people of Israel. Does God really take a servant through this much pain and suffering to be an example to others? Did Ezekiel really have to endure such hardships losing his wife in order to be an example to God's chosen people? Yes! Jesus did it with a blind man so that God's glory will be made known (jn 9:3). We live among people who need to follow someone's lead instead of just following commands.
I understand what God is telling me here but my selfishness is preventing me from acting. I know it's not about the temporary and to be used to further God's kingdom is amazing. So how would I go if I had to release a loved one into God's hands forever? How would I deal with the pain and agony? To be honest, I feel I would go through lots of emotional struggles until I allow the Holy Spirit to grant me peace... but this is only reactionary. How would I measure up to being told that this was going to happen in advance? Would I still allow God's work to be done to minister and change a nation or will I go kicking and screaming for God to choose someone else to do it? I realize that my faith is limited but God calls us only to have a little; mustard seed little. So I need to take small steps and be faithful with the little that I have so that He can entrust greater things for me.
Heavenly Father, absolutely all praises are to You! I can talk all day about our conversations but that does little. I need to be a person of action, not just good intentions. LORD God, I pray that You consume me with Your Spirit to overcome my laziness in this world. Pour into me a discernment to do Your commands not just agree. I pray that I can lead those around me into obedience, as Ezekiel did. Thank You for another day to win more over to You, my King. In the saving name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!
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