He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”

Ezekiel 2:1 (NIV)

The book of Ezekiel has had a special place in my heart for many years. Shortly after I was first saved I was reading through the third chapter of Ezekiel, specifically, the Lord’s declaration that He had made Ezekiel a watchman when I was moved in my spirit that this is what the Lord also had for me. He had made me a watchman. On that day, I decided to turn away from the course I was following, to obtain my Ph.D. and become an English professor, to follow a different path.

There have been times, over the years, when I’ve thought about that decision and whether or not it was the right one. The charge I had felt, and still feel, was to tell people about Christ. At the time I didn’t know what that looked like but I thought it didn’t look like teaching. In some ways, I think that I was very myopic. I’ve often thought that, as a professor, I could have reached many more people for Christ than it seems I have in the path I’m on right now.

On this path right now I don’t see myself as the person I thought I would be. I’ve met quite a few evangelists and each of them has shared that, to one extent or another, they need to tell people about Jesus wherever they go. I don’t feel that way. Not like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel who had to speak what God had given to them. When I’m in line somewhere I don’t start telling everyone around me about Jesus. If I get into conversation with someone, rarely, we don’t end up talking about God in one way or another. There have been times when the Holy Spirit has prompted me to talk to someone and pray for them and, for the most part, I think I’ve done that. However, I don’t go around telling people that they’re going to hell if they don’t accept Christ.

I will say that I don’t worry over the assignment that I hope I’m fulfilling. I never thought of doing so in this manner, sharing my daily devotions with you. I still feel, however, that God has more for me in ministry, and I would be remiss if I didn’t consider my teaching ministry at the churches I’ve attended as part of my duties. I am thankful for this ministry and hope that you find some merit in what is presented.

As I read this verse today, “son of man” stood out to me. Jesus, as we know, is the Son of Man. You might wonder then, why is Ezekiel called a “son of man” if Jesus is called by the same title? As I researched this today I came across this explanation that does a great job of answering the question. A short summary is that “son of man” is a title for Jesus and a descriptor that means human being. Ezekiel is a “son of man” while Jesus is the “Son of Man.” The Son of Man as a title for Jesus reveals His humanity, humility, divinity, and fulfills the prophecy of The Son of Man from the Old Testament.

Something else stood out to me today from Ezekiel. God didn’t send him to a foreign country to tell the people about Him. “You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel” (Ezekiel 3:5 NIV). What this reminded me of was what Jesus said about a prophet not being honored in his own country (Matthew 13:57). People are often more likely to pay attention to someone different from them who they don’t think they know than someone that they think they know. When Jesus returned to His home the people there said, “‘Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?'” (Matthew 13:55 NIV).

Although we become a new creation when we are saved, those around us, who knew us before we were saved, might not accept who we are now (2 Corinthians 5:17). The irony, of course, is these people we knew when we weren’t saved are some of the people that we want to be saved the most. I endeavor to look towards people’s thoughts of who I used to be as a testimony of where God has brought me from instead of harboring ill-will. If anything, I feel pain knowing that it’s Christ in me, who is rejected, and not me. The best that any of us can do is to continue to show the love of God to all of His creation. Remembering that, whether or not they accept it, is in the Father’s hands.

Do you know God? God knows you and He loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, right now, and He wants you to know Him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so that we could be free of guilt, be freed from death, and live eternally with Him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation today:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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