Recently, we walked into a restaurant for lunch; as we made our way to the waiting area to be seated the hostess was noticeably irritated. My wife kindly asks her for a booth and that caused the hostess to roll her eyes in frustration. As she led us to our table we set down and like most people started to comment on this young ladies actions; let’s call it what it was, we were judging her. We didn’t know this girl nor did we know exactly what may have been causing these actions; all we knew is that we were not being treated the way we thought we should have been. Several minutes into our visit at this restaurant the elderly couple sitting behind us called the young lady over; the young lady walking over in a way to demonstrate that she was displeased. With me ease dropping and thinking the couple was going to really tear into this girl because of her attitude; the lady extended her hand and said “here you go.” She had handed the girl some money from what I gather, the girl was in shock and continued to ask why and what for? The couple simply replied because you need it today. The young lady said thank you and started to bus tables and wait on people with a smile and a little more energetic. As I sat there in shock and in embarrassment to God; I was reminded of something that I had been reading in the book of Ezekiel over the previous several days, “But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words, though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words or be discouraged by the look on their faces for they are a rebellious house. But speak My words to them whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious (Ezekiel 2:6-7).” We live among a world that is stricken with sinful desires and all of us are guilty whether one wants to admit it or not; however, if you claim to be a Christian and know God and have a relationship with Jesus Christ then we are not to participate in the rebellion that is occurring. When God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel He is encouraging a man to step out and not live in judgment of those who are rebelling against the name of God with the “briers and thorns.” Briers are a tangle mass of prickly plants and thorns are something that causes irritation and annoyance; how many people around us if not ourselves can relate to briers and thorns in life?
Recently a young man committed suicide, he was 19 years old. Obviously when someone goes to this extent to end their life, some briers and thorns existed. I myself knew this young man, not on a deeply personal level but I played basketball with him occasionally and talked to him at the local place he worked. Ezekiel said not to be discouraged by people’s words and the looks on their faces. The reason I bring up this young man who took his own life is because when I heard of his untimely death my first reaction was that I should have tried harder to connect with him to learn more about the “briers and thorns” that existed in his life but hard exteriors and course words can often draw a person away. In chapter 3 of Ezekiel in verses 17 – 21 God is speaking to Ezekiel about being a watchman over the rebellious house of Israel. This is where it gets serious, this is where if you are a believer in Christ and have a faith in God that we are called out. Ezekiel 3:18 “…you don’t speak out to warn him about his wicked way in order to save his life – that wicked person will die for his iniquity. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood.” Judgment and fear are two deadly attributes that will and do prevent us from ever experiencing everything God has in store for us and most importantly prevent others from knowing the love of Christ.
Recently in our bible study we discussed to very important events; the virgins birth and the resurrection. These are the corner stones of the Christian faith. The same judgment and fear Ezekiel speaks off was vigorously present during both of these crucial events. We tend to look at others in judgment because of their lifestyle choices but how much do we really know from our outside viewpoint? If we don’t overcome fear we can never experience love. 1John 4:20 “If anyone says “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And we have the command from Him: the one who loves God must also love his brother.” Fear of stepping out of our comfort zone usually leads to judgment because it is the easy way out. If we justify our reasoning for not reaching out then we can stay in our comfort zone; however, if we claim to love God then we are called to love our brother. So I ask the question that John asked: how can we love a God we cannot see if we can’t even love the people right in front of us each day?
