Are You Worried?

Stacey reminded me of a passage in Ezekiel when she asked a question from her recent readings that prompted a sermon. Here is the basic idea:

In Ezekiel 8, God shows Ezekiel the Israelites wanton disregard for God's commands and their whole-hearted embrace of idolatry. Each image/situation God exposes Ezekiel to - as bad as it seems - God basically says, "Oh, you think this is bad? Just wait." Finally, God declares that - without mercy - He will destroy these people.

In Ezekiel 9, instead of utter destruction, only those who have given themselves to the idolatry will be punished. Those who "sigh and groan over all the abominations" committed were to be marked, and, therefore, spared.

The Hebrew words translated "sigh and groan" convey the idea of an exasperated sigh or a reaction to pain as well as the idea of crying out or lamentation.

How many of us have this reaction to the sin we see all around in the world? More importantly, do we have this reaction to the complacency we see amongst brethren who feel showing up and paying a preacher to evangelize the community is all that God requires?

We need to have a lot more sighing and groaning, but if that's where it stops, we're not doing what is expected of us. Worrying does nothing useful. If you know there is something you're concerned about - in your neighborhood, your congregation, your family, or with yourself - don't worry about it, do something to fix it!

So, which is it going to be - apathy, hopeless hand-wringing, or serious concern that prompts action?

Are You The Weakest Link?

Studying second Timothy for the class I'm teaching on Wednesday nights, I came across an interesting thought pertaining to the following passage from chapter 2:

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

So, Paul is telling Timothy to tell others about God, Jesus, and what is expected of them, and then to enable them to pass those things along to others. I've glossed over this many times thinking it simply means that we must get down to spreading the word.

Jesus whole life was spent teaching others what God expected of them and then telling them to go home and tell others. His mission was to seek and save the lost.

By being obedient to the great commission and Paul's commands to Timothy, we're continuing the chain of faithful men who have served from the time of Jesus. Teaching is one of the few things that we can do that is the exact same thing Jesus did while He was here on this earth.

With such an exciting connection, it has a serious implication as well - if we're faithful, we're continuing the chain of delivering this message to those who need to hear it. If we don't do our job, we've broken the chain. We become the weakest link that renders any other thing we might do of little account.

This is terribly convicting as a preacher - it doesn't matter how many sermons I preach, or how eloquently I convey the words of God to an assembly of His people, if I don't take His message to the world as Jesus did I am the weakest link. If I don't offer convicting words to those that hear my lessons to prompt them to this service, too, then I'm encouraging others to abandon their service to God.

So, which will it be for you? Will you follow in Jesus footsteps and take the word to the lost, or will you be the weakest link in a nearly 2000 year chain of faithful service?