Watch Men and Women for Christ

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.  If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.  But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.  Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand.  But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.” Ezekiel 3:17-21


I don't know about you but this may very well be one of the most frightening passages in the Bible.  Though because of the saving power of Jesus Christ, I do not believe you can lose your salvation.  I cannot imagine anything worst than to come to the judgment seat on the day I die and know that I had a hand in someone going to hell due to my silence.  We as Christians should be passionately living each day to share the gospel with those around us.  We are not doing non-Christians any favors by being silent and not displaying Christ around them.  We are not being kind by being silent but in fact we are being cruel.  If indeed we believe in God, the saving works of Jesus, and hell, we should be passionately striving to reach the people around us for Christ.  It shouldn't be a burden we try to fulfill but a joy we can't help but share.


David speaks to living passionately for God in Psalm 86:11-13 saying, 


Teach me your way, O Lord,
 that I may walk in your truth;
 unite my heart to fear your name.
 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
  and I will glorify your name forever.
 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
  you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Are you living for God with your whole heart or are you divided by your desires for this world?  Do you live you life to serve the Lord or to fulfill your bucket list before death?  Many times, we do not want to consider or acknowledge David's last line in this passage.  We conveniently forget what Jesus saved us from.  We forget the joy we felt at welcoming Jesus into our life and surrendering the sin of our life to Him.  We forget why we want others to be able to share in the incomprehensible joy and peace of grace we too once received.  

I know our iPhones, TV's, cars, houses, relationships, schooling, movies, music, destinations, hopes, dreams, and desires feel so real and so tangible now but will any of these things truly matter when we are at the gates of heaven?  When you get to the gates of heaven and meet Jesus face to face are you positive that He will say he knows you or could He say, "I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!"  Beloved don't let your hearts be blinded by the pleasures of this world.  Don't turn away from sharing your witness and the truth of the gospel because of fear, excuses, or lack of calling.  Jesus has called each and everyone of us to tell the world about Him.  He has called us to lay down our life's so that He may be shown to the world around us.  Jesus demands every fiber of our heart not just part of it.

I pray tonight that each one of us who call ourselves Christians would be able to live a life that is undivided.  I pray we would each walk in truth and yet also live with a reverent fear for our Lord.  We must not forget the most important truth of this world.  We must not lose sight of the kingdom of God.  We are the frontline troops to proclaim and extend the kingdom of God.  Not just the minister, missionaries, and the gifted few.  Every single one of us have been commanded to share Jesus Christ to the end of the earth.  I pray that today your heart would develop a new passion, boldness, and faith in sharing Jesus with others.  I pray your heart would be burdened for the lost around you as God is burdened for them.  I pray that you like the watchman would never be silent in speaking truth for God.

Blessings,

Greg

Mine Was the Boat

Yesterday, my pastor read a poem written a while ago about the life of Peter with Jesus.  I was touched by the poem and wanted to share it with each of you.  Peter is my favorite apostle, probably because I resemble him so much.  I am so thankful that Jesus chose Peter as an apostle because I feel like there is hope for me if there was hope for Peter.  If you have not taken the time to truly study Peter in the Bible, I encourage you to do so.  It is so wonderful to see the change in Peter's life through the influence of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Though pieces of the stumbling Peter are in most accounts of his life, Peter went all to do great things for the kingdom through His submission and passionate love of Jesus Christ.  I hope you will enjoy the poem.

Untitled

I owned a little boat a while ago.
And sailed the morning sea without a fear,
And whither any breeze might fairly blow
I steered my little craft afar or near.

Mine was the boat
And Mine the air,
And mine the sea,
Nor mine a care

My boat became my place of nightly toil,
I sailed at evening to the fishing ground,
At morn my boat was freighted with the spoil
Which my all-conquering work had found.

Mine was the boat
And mine the net,
And mine the skill
And power to get. 

One day there came along that silent shore,
While I my net was casting in the sea,
A Man who spoke as never man before.
I followed Him; new life began in me.

Mine was the boat
But His the voice
And His the call
Yet mine the choice.

Ah! 'twas a fearful night out on the lake,
And all my skill availed not, at the helm,
Till Him asleep I waked, crying, Take
Thou the helm---lest water overwhelm!

Now His the boat
And His the sea
And His the peace
Over all and me. 

Once from the boat He taught the curious throng
Then bade me cast my net into the sea;
I murmured but obeyed, nor was it long
Before the catch amazed and humbled me.
His was the boat
And His the skill.
And His the catch
And His my will.

Masterpieces of Religious Verse, Edited by James Dalton Morrison

Can you like Peter say that Jesus' will is your own?  Do you rely on Jesus for peace?  Do you acknowledge that all you have is not your own but His?  Have you answered Jesus' call?  I hope you will take the time to read this poem again and consider how it applies to your life and your relationship with Jesus Christ.  I hope you can come to the same conclusion this author did.

Blessings,

Greg

  My wife and I feel an intense calling on our lives for missions and full-time ministry.  We have created a fundraiser to help us overcome one hurtle to us being able to go to the mission field.  I pray that you will take a moment and check out this link.  I thank you for your consideration and ask that you seek the Lord's guidance in considering contributing to this fundraiser.  Thank you.

You Caring