Be Faithful and Be Careful!

We don't often have the best of conditions in which to be faithful witnesses to the goodness and truth of God.  In fact, circumstances are usually just the opposite but God expects us to be faithful anyway.
Such was the case for Ezekiel.  The people of God were five years into a time of exile that would last 70 years.  The memory of the destruction of Jerusalem and their temple was still fresh and they wondered if they would ever adjust to the 'new normal' of life in a foreign land among a pagan people.
These were the conditions when God called Ezekiel to be His spokesman. 
The people were suffering and their focus was on their circumstances and on how to survive in conditions they had never experienced before.
God warned Ezekiel that the people were rebellious and defiant and probably would not listen to what God had to say to them.  I'm guessing that they were mad at God for their circumstances and had no intentions of listening to anything He had to say.  Sounds much like conditions in our world today!  But Ezekiel was to speak to them on God's behalf anyway (Ezekiel 2:3-7).
We as followers of Jesus, live in a culture that is becoming increasingly hostile to God and His word.  But we are to share the good news of God's love "whether or not they listen".  It can be very discouraging for a faithful follower of Jesus when repeated attempts to introduce people to Christ are met with hostility and rejection.  It is tempting to just give up and say, "Lord, I've had it!  You deal with them!"  But then how are we any different than those who rebel against God when we try to speak to them on His behalf?
God warned Ezekiel, ". . .take care. . .that you don't rebel like these rebels." (Ezekiel 2:8, Msg).
As He did for Ezekiel, God stands faithfully with us in our pursuit of obedience to Him.  Our call is to relay His message and guard against becoming part of the problem while we attempt to announce the solution.