Ezekiel 33: 7-11 (NRSV)
Read Ezekiel 33: 7-11 on biblegateway.com
Verse 7So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. Verse 8If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. Verse 9But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
Verse 10Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?" Verse 11Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
Devotion
I was an Army Chaplain on active duty from 1986 to 1993, and went to combat twice in those years. By the grace of God, neither unit I served with lost a man in combat. Everyone who went came home. No one had to go through the agony of being informed of a loved one’s death.
But during those same years I lost 8 soldiers to HIV AIDS and 9 to alcohol related accidents, but they did not die without a word of warning. It was one of my duties to provide briefings on the issues of alcohol and “safer sex” practices. I did so because I also had services for those 17 soldiers, and drafted the letters to their families for their commanders.
The wages of sin are death. We cannot prevent anyone from sinning, but we are obligated to warn them of the consequences.
Prayer
Lord, embolden us to speak your word of warning. Amen.