Scripture for today: Ezekiel 33; Ezekiel 34; Ezekiel 35; Revelation 18 (The Message)
Scripture-My special verse today: Ezekiel 33:30-32 ”As for you, son of man, you’ve become quite the talk of the town. Your people meet on street corners and in front of their houses and say, ‘Let’s go hear the latest news from God.’ They show up, as people tend to do, and sit in your company. They listen to you speak, but don’t do a thing you say. They flatter you with compliments, but all they care about is making money and getting ahead. To them you’re merely entertainment—a country singer of sad love songs, playing a guitar. They love to hear you talk, but nothing comes of it.
33 ”But when all this happens—and it is going to happen!—they’ll realize that a prophet was among them.”
Observation: Ezekiel is speaking to the people but they are not heeding his warnings or directions. God tells Ezekiel that they will meet to hear his words and act like they are enjoying them. However, they will be pure entertainment. They will not listen attempting to change anything in their lives but will only listen in order to have something fun to do. The words will not cause them to change and they will only realize he was a prophet after all things that are prophesied will happen.
Application: Do people hear me or do they listen? Mostly with my own children, it seems I speak but they are slow to hear me. Don’t they realize that I want to keep them from making the same mistakes I have made? However, they are entertained many times but I don’t think they will understand the directions until bad things happen. Why is our human nature like that? It would be so much easier to listen to God myself the first time. Unfortunately, many times I shake my head and enjoy the talk but don’t really hear what he is saying to me. I should desire his direction and heed them the first time.
Prayer: Let me convicted and not entertained by your words. Let me listen with a heart that is willing to listen to you completely.
