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Ezekiel's Dilemma

Today's readings are from Ezekiel 5, 6, 7, 8

The prophet Ezekiel ministered during the Captivity. He was sent by God to the captives who had been removed from the land and were living in a foreign land. Questions, doubt, discouragement, pain accompanied their daily lives. They couldn't comprehend the "why". To do this God enters into the realities. He "sees" what God "sees". That's the role of the prophet.

Ezekiel's dilemma is providing hope in the midst of discipline. How do we "speak the truth" when the truth is sharp, painful to hear? How do we leave the truth hurt as it should, and yet point to the future when hope is fulfilled and life is restored to God? This is much needed today.

Peace


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Comments

Paul said…
It seems to me in my limited knowledge that because I know that I don't know it all could be an advantage when dealing with speaking the truth. Remembering Jesus words of "love as I have loved" goes a long way. If we really have genuine love for the person we are speaking truth to they will be more likely to hear what we are saying. God searches our hearts and if our hearts are right, according to his ways, God just might open his or her eyes to what we are saying through the Holy Spirit. In my own experience, I didn't hear truth until I WANTED to hear truth. Not only did I not care about the truth, I could not have recognized it if I heard it. It seems to me that God can move hearts, but sometimes he wants to know if we will come to the decision to follow his son on our own. Once we make the decision to follow his son, is there anything the Holy Spirit will keep from us? We hear not because we want not. If we trust God with our lives, will we not have hope?

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