September 1
Ezekiel 32:17-33:20, Jeremiah 52:28-30; Ps 137:1-9; 1 Chronicles 4:24-5:17
How irresponsible must your shepherd of choice be before you finally choose to abandon him/her and seek out the True Shepherd? How many more times must our politicians lie blatantly on both sides of the political aisle before you stop placing your trust and hope in any of them. How many times must those in positions of power in the field of education prove untrustworthy before you stop revering them? Do you believe Drag Queen story hour is okay, not informing parents and facilitating transgenderism, not to mention the absolute brainwashing which occurs in our higher places of education. Have they not proven themselves untrustworthy? Anthony Fauci said in front of Congress, "I am science". Not only has he been proven wrong, terribly wrong, but so has those in charge of the WHO, the CDC, the NIH, the FDA, etc. The rank and file providers who blindly followed their guidelines and protocols were likewise wrong. Shepherds, all blind, all leading their respective flocks in the wrong direction. So, where do we find truth? We find truth in He who is truth, Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd (John 10). Please take the time to read slowly the amazing description of false shepherds vs. the True Shepherd in Ezekiel 34.
It was no different in the days of Ezekiel. His nation, Judah, was on the brink of collapse. The leaders were corrupt. The leaders sought their own gain, and cared little for the people. Ezekiel could have focused on the corruption, instead he sounded the alarm, and directed people to God. We read in Ezekiel 33:7-9. "“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul." The role of the watchman on the wall was just that. With trumpet in hand his job was to scan the horizon. He was to be trustworthy, attentive, and honest. Once danger was seen, he would sound the alarm. That was all he was to do. It was then up to the people to respond.
We all have a choice. We can continue to trust those who are untrustworthy. We can also focus all of our attention pointing to others about the untrustworthiness, complaining about our current situation, but doing nothing to help guide them. Or we can be that watchman to point others to the Good Shepherd. He is our only hope. He is the embodiment of truth. Why set our eyes on anyone or anything else.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: