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Ministry is hard. And I don’t just mean formal ministry positions. I really mean following Jesus is hard. There are so many days I feel like I’ve run for miles and traveled nowhere. Love your enemies. Humble yourself to the lowliest position. Renounce all your possessions. Consider your worst days as pure joy. That’s just the shortlist.
I’m not complaining. I’m verbalizing the reality of taking Jesus’ commands as seriously as we should. He loves us and we love Him, so He expects obedience. After all, He gave us the Word (which He exemplified in the flesh) as well as the Holy Spirit. On top of that, He formed the church which allows us to work together as His Body. He also removed sin and death from our sight. No matter how difficult it may be to follow, we have been given the strength and the power to follow through.
Out of all the commands of the OT, there are few I can think of more difficult than what is asked of Ezekiel in Chapter 24.
“Son of man, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you with a fatal blow. But you must not lament or weep or let your tears flow. 17 Groan quietly; do not observe mourning rites for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners.”
Ezekiel 24:16-17 HCSB
Yes, that would be Ezekiel’s wife. Why would God do such a thing?
The command God gave to Ezekiel was an illustration of God’s pain over His wife (Jerusalem) being slain. The fact that Ezekiel was not allowed to mourn paralleled the fact that God could not mourn over Jerusalem because she deserved the judgment and punishment that was coming. He was called to “be a sign to the exiles” and amazingly, he did it. Did you read that? Husbands and wives out there… how would you respond if God took your spouse from you and then commanded you not to mourn? Let’s broaden the reach. What if it was your sister, your brother, your mother, or your father? Would you obey out of your love for God?
Ezekiel’s unbelievable obedience to the harshest commands of God illustrated his heart condition and contrasted the heart condition of Jerusalem who could not even follow the most basic commands of God’s law. When God’s people respond to extreme situations with faith and trust in what God has commanded, the world takes notice.
Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean for us?”
Ezekiel 24:19 HCSB
The extreme obedience of Ezekiel accomplished its intended purpose. Their curiosity was piqued which created a perfect opportunity for truth to be spoken into their life. And here is where we have a light bulb moment as NT Christians. When we follow through with what Jesus asks of us (through His strength), we become a walking testimony that will attract the attention of those around us. Unconditional love leading to unwavering obedience is tough, but it is effective. This life isn’t about us… it’s about bringing glory to our Father!