“And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, “Thus says the Lord God,” whether they hear, or whether they refuse.” (Ezekiel 3:11)
Does it ever seem that no matter how much you try to love people and share the Gospel of Christ with them that they refuse to listen to you?
You’re not alone.
It seems not many out there are open to hearing God’s Word these days.
So what are we to do?
Keep speaking the Truth in love.
Just as He did by sending the Prophet Ezekiel to the rebellious, hard-hearted people of Israel, so too, has God sent you to hard-hearted and rebellious people—most of whom will refuse to hear you.
And God clearly told him, whether they will hear you, or whether they refuse; say to them, “Thus says the Lord God.”
Many will refuse to hear you. But some will listen, and turn their hearts to the Lord.
I had a conversation with someone last week who seems very reluctant to speak God’s Word to a relative who is in blatant, open rebellion against God. She said, “I don’t want to judge.”
However, speaking God’s Word to someone is not "judging" them. Warning them that God is the Judge and He will judge all men one day is not judging them. You’re simply telling them the truth. And you’re loving them by doing so.
God told Ezekiel, “For they are hard-hearted and stubborn children.” But He said, “I am sending you to them.”
The Lord doesn’t send us to a people who are going to love much of what He has to say. Telling someone that they are dead in their sins and God will judge them is not a popular message. Telling someone that they must repent of their sins and turn to God is often met with much resistance. And yes, we must tell them that God is love. But He is also the Judge. And Hell is a very real place reserved for all those who reject God and what Jesus did on the cross. You can’t leave out the hard to hear parts. He told Ezekiel to tell his people, “Thus says the Lord God.” You have to tell people the whole truth.
If you have a friend or family member who once professed Christ as their Savior, but now has rebelled and totally walked away from God, let these words from the Apostle James both comfort and convict you:
“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20)
“Will save his soul from death.” That could not be clearer.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, you have been sent with a message that will save a soul from death. And you have to share the entire message of God. You can’t sugar-coat it, leaving out any parts that you think might offend someone. If you leave out the part that says God will judge all sinners because you don’t want people to think you’re judging them, you have left out part of the truth of God’s own Word.
The Psalmist wrote:
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” (Psalm 19:7)
The Word is perfect, and complete. We can’t leave out the parts that we think people won’t like.
The Psalmist also wrote:
“Forever O’ Lord, Your word stands firm in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89)
There are warnings in the Old Testament and the New Testament about not adding to or taking away from God’s Word. You can’t cherry-pick the Scriptures.
Paul said he has declared the whole counsel of God’s Word with people. He left nothing out.
You can quote John 3:16 to people…”For God so loved the world.” But Jesus says in verse 18 that he who does not believe in Him is condemned already. You have to give people the entire truth.
Jesus said,
“And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
Jesus is the Word and He is God. (See John 1:1) God is Love. (See 1 John 4:8) And He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)
So give people the entire Truth and you are giving them Jesus.
But remember... Jesus said,
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:37-38)
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
I had a conversation with someone last week who seems very reluctant to speak God’s Word to a relative who is in blatant, open rebellion against God. She said, “I don’t want to judge.”
However, speaking God’s Word to someone is not "judging" them. Warning them that God is the Judge and He will judge all men one day is not judging them. You’re simply telling them the truth. And you’re loving them by doing so.
God told Ezekiel, “For they are hard-hearted and stubborn children.” But He said, “I am sending you to them.”
The Lord doesn’t send us to a people who are going to love much of what He has to say. Telling someone that they are dead in their sins and God will judge them is not a popular message. Telling someone that they must repent of their sins and turn to God is often met with much resistance. And yes, we must tell them that God is love. But He is also the Judge. And Hell is a very real place reserved for all those who reject God and what Jesus did on the cross. You can’t leave out the hard to hear parts. He told Ezekiel to tell his people, “Thus says the Lord God.” You have to tell people the whole truth.
If you have a friend or family member who once professed Christ as their Savior, but now has rebelled and totally walked away from God, let these words from the Apostle James both comfort and convict you:
“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20)
“Will save his soul from death.” That could not be clearer.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, you have been sent with a message that will save a soul from death. And you have to share the entire message of God. You can’t sugar-coat it, leaving out any parts that you think might offend someone. If you leave out the part that says God will judge all sinners because you don’t want people to think you’re judging them, you have left out part of the truth of God’s own Word.
The Psalmist wrote:
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” (Psalm 19:7)
The Word is perfect, and complete. We can’t leave out the parts that we think people won’t like.
The Psalmist also wrote:
“Forever O’ Lord, Your word stands firm in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89)
There are warnings in the Old Testament and the New Testament about not adding to or taking away from God’s Word. You can’t cherry-pick the Scriptures.
Paul said he has declared the whole counsel of God’s Word with people. He left nothing out.
You can quote John 3:16 to people…”For God so loved the world.” But Jesus says in verse 18 that he who does not believe in Him is condemned already. You have to give people the entire truth.
Jesus said,
“And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
Jesus is the Word and He is God. (See John 1:1) God is Love. (See 1 John 4:8) And He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)
So give people the entire Truth and you are giving them Jesus.
But remember... Jesus said,
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:37-38)
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
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