The past three days the scripture passage my devotionals have been based on are Ezekiel 2:1 – 3:15. I would encourage you to read that passage – a short 25 verses. But first, Ezekiel 1:28b (TLB) says: ”…the glory of the Lord appeared to me. And when I saw it, I fell face downward on the ground and heard the voice of someone speaking to me:”
Ezekiel 2 – various verses (MSG): “It said, ‘Son of man, stand up. I have something to say to you.’ The moment I heard the voice, the Spirit entered me and put me on my feet. As he spoke to me, I listened.” Ezekiel appropriately humbled himself, but then God wanted him to stand up and give Him his undivided attention as He spoke to him. God proceeds to commission Ezekiel to go to the rebellious nation of Israel, to prophecy to them: “‘They’re a hard case, these people to whom I’m sending you—hardened in their sin. Tell them, ‘This is the Message of God, the Master.’ They are a defiant bunch. Whether or not they listen, at least they’ll know that a prophet’s been here.’” (Seven years later when Jerusalem falls they will recognize that Ezekiel was a true prophet.) Ezekiel is warned not to be afraid of anything they say or do as a result of his words to them. “‘Your job is to speak to them. Whether they listen is not your concern. They’re hardened rebels.’”
Ezekiel 2:7 & 11 (CEV): “‘…the people of Israel will refuse to listen, because they have refused to listen to me. All of them are stubborn and hardheaded.’” “‘…go to the people…and tell them you have a message from me, the Lord God. Do this, whether they listen to you or not.’” How often do we hear God without really hearing Him? Are we too stubborn, too hardened to truly hear what’s being said to us? Have we stood up, opened our ears and really heard what He has to say?
“Develop a lifestyle of hearing. Spend time worshipping in His presence and then stand with expectancy. God always communicates with those who listen on His terms with a mind toward obedience. The person who thinks God might speak will probably not hear Him. Those who know He will speak can trust what they hear.” *
I was fascinated by how many times Ezekiel was told either that the people may or may not listen, or that they’d refuse to listen, and even more so by how He said even if they don’t, it’s not your concern. Ezekiel was to listen to what God had to say then he was to speak it, regardless of the obvious acceptance and outcome and then as we’ll see, he was to just be.
“Whether they listen or not, God says, they at least need to know that a prophet has been among them. The world needs to know that He has spoken so they can make a choice whether to run into His embrace or coldly slap His face. But they can’t make the choice unless they hear. Hearing is paramount.” *
We, like Ezekiel, have a responsibility. Just as Jesus sent His disciples into the world to speak His truth, we (the church) are meant to do the same – after we listen, then we need to speak – after we speak, then we need to be. “In words, in deeds, and in lifestyle, the church is to be the prophet of God.” *
“Then he said, ‘Son of man, get all these words that I’m giving you inside you. Listen to them obediently. Make them your own.’” (Ezekiel 3:10 MSG) That is a necessary step if we are ever to be.
“Abraham didn’t have a message about faith, he was a man of faith. David didn’t just write about worship, he was a worshiper. Elijah didn’t just say ‘the Lord is God,’ he lived that message and even bore the message as his name. And Jesus, as we know, isn’t just a message about salvation; He is salvation. With God’s people, message and messenger are fully united.” *
“Is your message consistent with who you are as a messenger?…..God told Ezekiel to ‘listen carefully and take to heart’ the words given to him to speak to the exiles (NIV). They weren’t simply to be repeated, they were to be lived. And perhaps more than any other prophet, Ezekiel lived his message. We have no hint that he was lukewarm about anything he said; in fact, just the opposite. He suffered enormous ridicule and objection as a representative of God. Why? Because a representative of God is more than a speaker. He embodies the Word itself.” *
As I read the third devotional from that passage today, I was pretty convicted. I really do try to listen (not 100% convinced of how well I do that); I do try to speak truths given opportunities; but, I have a concern about how successful I really am at the being part. Do my words and actions always reflect well upon my Lord? Do they make it clear to others that I’m a Christian? What kind of messenger am I really? I believe that I have work to do in all three areas, but that last area – the being part of it – I’m going to have to be more aware and committed, no doubt.
“We are the Bible the world is reading.” Billy Graham
Written by Karran Martin – October 1, 2026
[All bold emphasis is mine]
* Quotes by Chris Tiegreen, author of The One Year Heaven On Earth Devotional
