Being A Watchman!

The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’ Ezekiel 33:1-6 NIV

If we have been called by God to promote the Gospel--our assignment is to be a watchman, warning the people of imminent danger when we see it headed our way. We have a job to do and it's time we get it done.
"Watchmen on the wall--sound the alarm for trouble is coming and I don't want the blood of others on my hands!"

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:5-8 NIV

I'm sounding the alarm! Blow The Trumpet in Zion--everyone! We have recently seen a dangerous display of one who speaks with a forked tongue. One minute in another country--across the border he plans to wall--a calm, almost boring presentation, but within the same day, a raucous, screaming screech--declaring the gloom and doom for the very people he had just said were such wonderful people.

There may be a mental deficit driving this dual personality or it may simply be--a politician who will say anything to any audience to win their vote. And if--the people who are listening are not careful, they will be caught up in the devastation bound to follow having  man in the White House who doesn't know east from west or north from south and has no specific plan for anything--other than to win by any means.

And that winning--includes having his campaign team provide him with the "appropriate responses for an interview' by a Black preacher on Saturday. They're consulting with Black Republicans so they can make sure they tell him the right thing to say. REALLY! What a joke and a travesty if people believe what they hear when the interview airs because his campaign team is "assisting with the editing." http://nyti.ms/2cutqWN

At any rate--I've sounded the alarm--what people do when they read this--is on them, not me.

On The Journey--Samek!

I hate the double-minded,
But I love Your law.
You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your word.
Depart from me, you evildoers,
For I will keep the commandments of my God!
Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
Hold me up, and I shall be safe,
And I shall observe Your statutes continually.
You reject all those who stray from Your statutes,
For their deceit is falsehood.
You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross;
Therefore I love Your testimonies.
My flesh trembles for fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments.

The 15th letter (Samech in the KJV) and stanza--man versus God--what men do and what God does.

The writer (and rightfully so) expresses his feelings about double-minded people--those who are on one side of the fence one day and then switch--at will to the other side. This is like politicians--who proclaim to belong to one party adamantly and then switch to the other. James tells us, "A double-minded person is unstable in all their ways." I think most of can see the waffling and teetering between the points of thought of the political candidates now. I'm with the writer on this one--double-minded people cannot be trusted.

However, I wonder if when we're singing our praises to God or even just talking to Him, if we would be better off, not spending so much time talking about those who do wrong. It's not like God doesn't see them or know what they do.

And then there is the arrogance--implied in almost every stanza--"Look at what they do God, but I don't do those things." The writer is constantly telling God how much he loves His laws and His Word, but do we really need to "say" we love His Word or should we just "live" His Word?

Some may not agree with my conclusions and that's perfectly fine. I would like to get into meaningful dialogue with those who truly want to understand and live God's Word before Him.

In some parts of his song, it would appear that he is almost blaming God when he gets into trouble. If his hopes are dashed--it's God's fault? Since God honors our free-will choices (we have to accept the consequences of those choices), it would seem to be that it is not God we need to seek to keep our hopes in Him from being shattered, but we need to seek Him in making our choices.

Now, I realize that we are now living in the 21st century and most of us have a wider depth of knowledge than the writer had at his disposal, but have we changed the way we do things--in particular--in how we talk to God?  The earth is full of wickedness, but do we need to detail all their ways or just pray that all the wicked and evildoers will allow God into their hearts?

I'm not trying to make light of the world's plight, but seeking understanding so I can be a better representative of who God is, and not need to have me in the spotlight.

Lord, help us to hear You clearly and to obey all You desire us to do and to do it all to Your glory for there is none like You!