Devotionals

EZEKIEL'S CALL Distinct, Clear and Understtandable Day Two

by Henry Jaegers
04/13/16
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DAY TWO

EZEKIEL'S CALL

Distinct, Clear and Unforgettable

the word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar and the hand of the Lord was there upon him.( Ezekiel 1:3)

To achieve true greatness is not ours to decide. As we consider these opening words in Ezekiel there are only three things that Ezekiel needed in order to have a successful ministry. These three things are applicable to those claiming to be called of God. The first of these is the word from God. We are not placed in God's service to display strange imaginings about the Bible, about the people, and about our purpose. The word of the Lord: that is all that Jeremiah had as well as Ezekiel, Daniel, and Isaiah. How it frees us from being men-pleasers or the fear of wondering if we spoke the right words in the right way or worrying about how everyone liked what I had to say. The word of the Lord is the only promise we have in Scripture for successful ministry. What a blessed experience it is when we take the time to listen to the precious, blessed word of God to our hearts. In Psalm chapter 1 we are told that “he shall be like trees planted by the rivers of water that bring forth his fruit in its season; his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” . I like how Spurgeon expresses it “God's trees are ever- green” The wonderful promise of God concerning the blessed word of God to the heart is like a sponge absorbing God's treasure. The blessed promises of God are the treasure. When we are called of God we are each equipped by God and we are able to have the confidence that God gives because we spent time hearing what He has to say and experiencing its application to my heart. So first is that you have the word of God.

But that is not all. Having the word of God accompanied by an opportunity to share the word of God. In the case that Ezekiel he was one priest that we know of who was not corrupted by the people. Opportunities are around us all the time but sometimes we fail to recognize them or we are unprepared for their arrival. Because of his office as priest, there was an opportunity for Ezekiel. Sometimes I think that because I am no longer preaching in the church that my opportunities are gone. But someone has to reach to those people who never attend the church and that's where the opportunity comes for God's servants.

Finally most important of all the fact that God's hand was upon him. What else do we need? When men refuse to listen and friends become hostile toward us the most important thing we need to know, and we find this more loudly declared in the life of Jeremiah, that God is with us and he is taking the message He has given to us and causes it to fall in places that we never expect. It may seem like it's only God and me but what else is important? God and me alone sharing fellowship and being blessed by the word that comes to us.

Are you finding this blessed time each day necessary and precious in order to keep going? That is most important; the time I spend with him each day

In the secret of His presence how my soul delights to hide

Oh, how precious are the lessons that I learn at Jesus side;

Earthly cares can never vex me neither trials lay me low

for when Satan comes to tempt me To the secret place I go;

to the secret place I go. (Ellen L. Soreh 1883)