Memorise:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:20
Read: Ezekiel 33:12-16
12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
Message
As a young Christian, I used to think that the sole purpose of preaching was the conversion of souls. When I preached and people did not respond positively, I used to be discouraged. Often times, I felt that there was no need to preach to people whom I assumed were despisers of the message of the gospel, until the Lord led me to a truth about my assignment as a watchman.
This truth is hidden in Mathew 24:14:
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
From this scripture, I understood that the gospel must be preached not only for them to believe and be saved but also to serve as a witness so that they may be left without excuse! The Psalmist also mentioned this truth in Psalm 51:4. As watchmen, we are therefore left without an excuse if we do not deliver the message as instructed.
As Christians, we should understand that we are watchmen and not watchdogs. Dogs can only bark, but we are sent to teach what our Lord has commanded us, and this we must do till the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). It is satanic to consider as pointless or obsolete, the ideals of our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the gospels and those revealed through His Holy Spirit in the epistles. Moreover, as watchmen and oracles of the Lord, we must preach the message of hope, assuring people in our generation that there is room for sinners at the cross of Jesus for repentance. Whenever they ask us “What must we do?” We should answer with the words of Acts 3:19
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”
God told Ezekiel to assure the people that He had no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Rather, His desire is that the wicked one should turn from his evil ways and live (Ezekiel 33:11). This is our message, and this is our responsibility. However, we must call a spade a spade, so that the reality of Hell awaiting unrepentant sinners may dawn on them and they may repent.
Prayer Point:
Father, make me an effective watchman that will bring harvest of souls into your kingdom.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 1 KINGS 17:8-18:40 and LUKE 6:1-23
AUTHOR : Pastor E.A. ADEBOYE
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