Obedience Among the Disobedient

"The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says' . . . whether they listen or fail to listen . . . You must speak My words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious . . . Go now to you countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to listen.'" ~selected verses from Ezekiel 2 & 3

"Where did this Man get these these things?" they asked. What's this wisdom that has been given Him, that He even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's Son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't His sisters here with us?" And they too offense at Him.

Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." ~Mark 6:2(b)-4

Many of us have known scoundrels in our lifetime. I would even venture to say that many of us WERE scoundrels. Things that we have done ~ good and bad ~ give us a reputation . . . or as my grandparents would say, they give us a "good name" or a "bad name."

For those of us who didn't become Christians until our early adulthood, some of the hardest people to witness to and to convince of the change in our lives are our family and those who have known us most of our lives. Why is it that those who know and love us best find our faith in Jesus so hard to believe? Why does Jesus seem to be such a threat? Is it us? Or is it Jesus?

And when we experience such wonderful changes, when we have been changed from death to life, when we realize that all because of ~ and ONLY because of ~ Jesus we have been saved from the eternal punishment of hell and will live eternally with Him in heaven . . . we want people that we love to know that forgiveness and peace as well . . . but . . . what if they won't listen?

We are required to tell this lost and dying world about the forgiveness and freedom found ONLY in Jesus. Some will listen and, sadly, some will not. We are required to tell. Usually, it's nothing against us, but this is a fallen world, a rebellious world. We can only do what we are called to do; to be faithful with the tasks that God has given us ~ to be obedience among the disobedient.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><