"Just a watchman"
"So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. (Ezekiel 33:7-9 ESV)
I love this picture of a watchmen. Not only for what it stands for but also for what's not mentioned here. God doesn't tell Ezekiel he has to be a savior. He doesn't tell him that he has to rescue. He tells him that he has to warn people not save them. If he warns the people then he has done what God requires of him. If he doesn't then God will hold him responsible. Not if they listen, but simply if he shares.
God hasn't required us to be saviors either. Jesus is that. All we are are watchmen. We are witnesses. We are a voice like John the baptist. John the baptist confessed that he wasn't the Christ but simply a voice. This is what we are. We aren't the savior, we are just a voice! All we have to do is warn. All we have to do is share. God does the saving.
I heard a pastor say this week that the phrase, "Preach the gospel, if necessary, use words" is like saying, "Feed the hungry, if necessary, use food." The gospel must be shared & we are the watchmen that must share it!
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