*Scripture: Ezekiel 3:12-27 (NKJV)* 12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a great thunderous voice: "Blessed is the glory of the LORD from His place!" 13 I also heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels beside them, and a great thunderous noise. 14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. 15 Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
16 Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: 18 When 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, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. 20 Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul." 22 Then the hand of the LORD was upon me there, and He said to me, "Arise, go out into the plain, and there I shall talk with you." 23 So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. 24 Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and spoke with me and said to me: "Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, O son of man, surely they will put ropes on you and bind you with them, so that you cannot go out among them. 26 I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and not be one to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house." *Devotion* As a spokesman for God, Ezekiel had an awesome responsibility. He was a "watchman for the house of Israel." Many businesses employ watchmen. Some will sit in front of screens and watch images from numerous cameras. Other watchmen walk around buildings or grounds and look for potential problems. Either way, their job is to watch, and in watching they protect their employer's property. Ezekiel's duty was far more important than just watching buildings and property. He watched over men's souls. He was to warn the wicked people against their wicked ways, and the righteous whenever the righteous fell into sin. Likewise, your pastor is to watch over your soul. When he confronts you with your sin he is to speak what God says in His Law. Though such confrontation is painful, for the Law of God crushes us under its weight, your pastor is not doing this because he dislikes you. Quite the contrary. The pastor confronts you with your sin out of love for you in Christ. The most unloving thing a pastor can do is remain silent concerning sin. Therefore we are to thank God for those to whom He has given the charge of watching over the souls of His people. It is a monumental task, and one that no man can ever do perfectly, except for one Man, Jesus. You can rest assured that Christ will never fail in caring for you, though your pastor may falter at times. That wonderful Gospel message of forgiveness of sins is not only for you, but also for your pastor.
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