Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Monday, 1 September 2014 - Ezekiel 33:7-11

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Monday, 1 September 2014 - Ezekiel 33: 7-9 “You, son of man, are the watchman. I’ve made you a watchman for Israel. The minute you hear a message from me, warn them. If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked man, wicked woman, you’re on the fast track to death!’ and you don’t speak up and warn the wicked to change their ways, the wicked will die unwarned in their sins and I’ll hold you responsible for their bloodshed. But if you warn the wicked to change their ways and they don’t do it, they’ll die in their sins well-warned and at least you will have saved your own life.
10 “Son of man, speak to Israel. Tell them, ‘You’ve said, “Our rebellions and sins are weighing us down. We’re wasting away. How can we go on living?”’
11 “Tell them, ‘As sure as I am the living God, I take no pleasure from the death of the wicked. I want the wicked to change their ways and live. Turn your life around! Reverse your evil ways! Why die, Israel?’(The Message)
Have you ever had a family member, friend or colleague sit you down and offer what perhaps at the time seemed like very harsh words but later was actually life giving? It's difficult to hear that we need to be reoriented or that our actions and words are not life giving to those around us. If you have ever been the person to have to speak those harsh words of truth, you also know that it's not just being on the receiving end that is stressful. But this is what being in community is all about. 
Ezekiel took seriously his call to not just be the "sentinel" but to understand that the message and call to "turn back from their evil ways," was also for him. We have a responsibility as the people of God to proclaim to one another and to receive from one another that we all need, over and over again, to be reoriented back to life in our relationship with God. We all need to hear the good news that God desires for us: not death or separation from God but life with God.
Loving God, we give you thanks for community that journeys with us and reveals your love and care in our lives. Through your son Jesus Christ you remove anything that separates us from you and from your love. Watch over us and lead us out into your world to share this good news with others. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Bridgett Weier
Englewood, Colo. 
Master of Divinity , 2012
Ezekiel 33:7 So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.
8 If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand.
9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
10 Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?"
11 Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?(New Revised Standard Version)
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