Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 31; 1 Corinthians 11; Ezekiel 9; Psalm 48
Ezekiel 9:4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Ezekiel was snatched up by his hair by God and taken to see all the abominations that were taking place in Jerusalem. There was idolatry and immorality all throughout the city. People were bowing to the sun and turning their backs on the temple of God. So the Lord commissioned an angel to go throughout the city and put a mark on everyone that sighed and cried for all the abominations that they saw. Immediately after that the LORD sent six men with weapons to go throughout the city and destroy anyone who did not have the mark.
It is interesting to me that God marked those who were burdened by what they saw. Even though they were a part of the city, they did not approve of the abominations that were taking place there. Let’s speculate for a moment. What if God were to go throughout America and mark all those that sigh and cry for the abominations they see. Would you be marked by the angel’s pen?
Jesus said: Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Have you fallen into acceptance and complacency or does the idolatry and immorality around you cause you to sigh, cry and mourn? Many of us are not actively participating in these abominations, but the Bible says:
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Does the sin that goes unchecked cause your heart to break? Does the unbelief around us cause you to mourn? What do we do? Biblically, there are three things that we can do.
1. Read, study and memorize God’s Word. Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Knowing God’s Word keeps us from the sin that grieves the heart of God.
2. Pray for those who are caught in the grip of sin. 1 John 5:16-17 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
3. Preach the gospel. Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
The Word, Prayer and the gospel – these are the answers for the whole world! As we share the message of Jesus he is the answer!
In Christ,
Rody
