Devotion

QT 12/07/2024 Fri. Ezekiel 3. Hard knocking headbumps. 硬碰硬

QT 12/07/2024 Fri. Ezekiel 3.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/eze3

MEDITATION: Even though the LORD's word was satisfying and sweet as honey (Ezek 3:2-3), the LORD anticipated that Ezekiel would face severe opposition in his preaching ministry.

The people refused to listen to Ezekiel because he spoke on behalf of God. Frequently in history, human rebuffed the word of God's spokesmen—e.g. the people rejected Moses' leadership (Exodus account) and Samuel's leadership (1Sam 8:4–7).

REFLECTION: Speaking to foreigners seemed easier than speaking to the house of Israel (Ezek 3:4-6), why was that so? How can God be glorified before the watching world (Ezek 36:22-23) when His own people refused to obey Him?

Therefore, the LORD "have made your face as hard as their faces" (Ezek 3:8) in order to face off with the "hard forehead and a stubborn heart" belonging to the "house of Israel" (Ezek 3:7), including "their looks" (Ezek 3:9).

Ezekiel was to listen with his ears and accept God's word, as an on-going activity throughout his ministry. Therefore, following God was not a once-upon-a-time single point of call in the past but a continuous abiding in his relationship with God. What's your?

APPLICATION: The LORD's deliberate call and preparation of the his servants and watchmen (Ezek 3:17) frequently preceded ministry initiatives. Be prepared to do the uncomfortable and unpopular: "The hand of the LORD being strong upon me" (Ezek 3:14). Leave the result to the LORD (Ezek 3:27).

星期五 2024年7月12日今日读经：以西结书3章.
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/eze/3/

听以西结书3章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/eze.3

默想：尽管耶和华的话令人饱足且像蜜糖一样甘甜(结3:2-3)，耶和华却已预想到以西结在他的传道事工上将遇到强烈的对抗。

反思：与外地人说话似乎比跟以色列家说话更容易(结3:4-6)，为何呢？神自己的子民都不顺服祂，神又如何在世人之前(结36:22-23)被荣耀呢?

人们拒绝听从以西结，因为他代表上帝说话。在历史上，人类经常拒绝上帝代言人的话，例如，人们拒绝摩西的领导（出埃及记）和撒母耳的领导（撒上 8：4-7）。

于是，耶和华“要使你的脸硬过他们的脸”(结3:8)以应付那“额坚心硬”、属“以色列家”(结3:7)，包括“在他们面前，也不要惊惶”(结3:9)。

以西结要用耳朵聆听并接受神的话语，这是他整个事奉过程中持续不断的活动。因此，跟随神不是过去一次单一的呼召，而是持续不断地与神保持关系。你与神同行的情况如何？

应用：耶和华对祂的仆人和守望者(结3:17)特别的呼召和预备通常占各种事工的优先。预备好将要做的那令人不舒服且不讨好的事：“耶和华的手强而有力临到我身”(结3:14)。把一切都交托给主吧(结3:27)。