God lets His people know that all of the visions and judgement Ezekiel has been sharing are about to actually happen.
The problem all along (as we can also read through Isaiah and Jeremiah) is that God's people are rebellious. In this case, God speaks out against what has happened to His temple, the evil and unfaithful ways His people have been living for so long, and the false prophets that speak words from their own imaginations.
In describing His people, God puts the issue this way,
They have eyes to see, but do not see
and ears to hear but do not hear,
for they are a rebellious people.
And as I read these words of frustration from God today, I realized that even though this bad news is really hard for me to read, it's also full of God's light.
Why?
Well, for sure we mess-up and struggle with sin in our lives too, just like God's people did back then. That's an ever-present reality of living in this world.
But, we can call on Jesus to help us. As we grow in our faith and come to know Jesus more and more, we can take these Living Words from God and turn them into powerful prayers of transformation for our own lives.
Through His Son, Jesus, God has sent us His Spirit to counsel, comfort, and guide us.
Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.
As believers, the Holy Spirit is in us and at work. And at the root of God's judgements (though difficult to read) throughout the Old Testament, we find the very things that can be a problem in our lives, things that also make us struggle, things we need to acknowledge before God. That's just the beginning of how Christ transforms us.
A prayer for today-
Dear God,
Thank You for the real power of Your Living Word to transform us and the way we live our lives. Work Your holy word into my heart and into the way I choose to spend my days.
Forgive me for all the ways I have eyes but do not see and ears but do not hear You. Open my heart wide to Your power and presence. Help me acknowledge all the ways my choices fall short of Your will for my life.
Counsel, comfort, and guide me and all of Your believers to grow in knowledge of Jesus and serve others in Your name.
Use me, Lord, to share the love of Christ and transform lives.
I ask all of these things in the name of Jesus,
Amen
In Christ's love,
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