Being married to a school teacher changes the way I now view the year. Most of us have four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. But I now know that teachers have school year and summer vacation, that is it. Luckily there are respites in the 10 months of school that do center around the seasons: fall break, Christmas break, and Spring break. Last week we were on Spring break along with all the teachers and kids in the local Georgia area, it was for us a time to spend catching up on all the things around the house and yard we just do not have time for while school is on. It was also a time when I ignored my computer, I decided to take a break from writing so I could spend more time with RuthAnn and enjoy the amazing weather we had. So, this morning my head is not clear, and my fingers are not flying across the keyboard. In fact, it is mornings like this that I wonder if I have anymore to share. But just as I think that the Holy Spirit gives me what I need!
Being on Spring Break has reminded me again how short our time is and how quickly time passes us by. Even though we took the luxury of ‘sleeping in’ until 6:00 or 6:30 most morning over the past week we were still up and at it by 9:00 but then the day just flew by and before you knew it, 6:00 PM. Where did the day go? In fact, as I was reading my one-year Bible readings this morning I noticed that today is the 92nd day of the year already, one quarter of 2019 is gone. It left me thinking, what have I accomplished in those days. No not worldly accomplishments. I certainly haven’t accomplished much there, and I am not that concerned about it. I am speaking of things I have done to forward the Kingdom of God. What have I done so far this year to share Jesus?
I suppose I could look here to this blog and say that I have written close to 40 blogs over the past 90 days and in those blogs, I have shared the miracles of a saved man. From alcoholic and druggie who had lost all hope and belief in God to this guy who knows God and wants to know him better each day. Sitting here reflecting; is this blog enough or should there be more. Well, here is what I found as I prayerfully searched God’s Word.
Some of you, I am sure know who Ezekiel was. A prophet of God during one of the most trying times in the Jewish nation’s history. He was called to be the ‘watchman’ of Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel was already taken in captivity. Now the southern kingdom was about to suffer the same fate. It was not without God’s warning. He sent prophets like Ezekiel to turn the people back to the one true God. But it was not just their jobs to stand on the street corner preaching, “the end is near!” No here is what God told Ezekiel, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so, hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.” (Ezekiel 3: 17-19)
Do you see the awesome and awful responsibility God gave this prophet? Do you think he calls us to do any less today? Look around us. We are in the same world that Ezekiel was mired in. A world so full of sin that the people did not even recognize it was sin anymore. Does that sound familiar? If you and I have accepted the love and mercy of Jesus Christ and are saved by HIS blood are we not just as responsible AND just as accountable for those we know are lost in this world’s wickedness and are doing nothing about it? I don’t know about you, but I think I am, and I know that means I am not being the ‘watchman’ God has called me to be!
So, the question is, how do I change that? What more can I do? The answer for me might be scary but it is pretty clear. First, I need to do this, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) I need to humble myself and turn from my sins. Then I can, like the prophets, have that open line of communication with God. No longer fear being his watchman. And the holy boldness of the Spirit will do the rest!
So today that is my prayer that when I can be humble, open and when, “… I heard the voice of the LORD saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)
The days are passing quickly. We are called to be watchmen! Are you ready, Am I? Today is the day. Let us say it together, Here we are, Lord, send us!
Blessings
John
4/1/19
