Pocket Thoughts - 7/10/26
In business, the customer is always right and ideally walks away happy after any given transaction. “Success” is achieved when the customer is satisfied and the books show a profit. From a spiritual perspective, success has a very different definition. Ezekiel and the Old Testament prophets lived out that definition most clearly. Success in the eyes of God is to hear His message, trust Him to equip us to deliver it, and faithfully present it to the desired audience. Notice that the response of the people is irrelevant to what God considers a win. He’s looking for obedience. Ezekiel was charged with a message to call God’s people to repentance. God forewarned him that there would be a mixed response from them, mostly negative. They had been in rebellion against God for so long, they were determined to turn a deaf ear to His words now. When it came to Ezekiel, the question wasn’t whether Israel would respond. The question was whether Ezekiel would be faithful to carry out the mission at hand. Still true, folks. We have the words of life, and we’re entrusted with their delivery to a lost and broken world. Do we pray for repentance and new life in Christ for those who receive our message? Absolutely! But we need to remember that the results are in His capable, sovereign hands. All God expects of us is faithfulness – for which He completely equips us.
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Father, it’s painfully easy to see the world through worldly eyes and to process our motivations and decisions from a worldly point of view. Thank You for Your Word, our guidebook for thinking and living rightly. Thank You for Your Spirit Who guides us into all truth and Who comforts us when the very message You’ve entrusted to us is rejected. God of grace, how desperately You long to see every soul saved! And yet, Your gift of freewill is often used to push You away and reject the truth. We mourn with You for the lost. Strengthen us to persevere in fighting the good fight – pushing back the darkness, carrying Your light of salvation, and looking to Jesus – the Author and Perfector of our faith. We look forward to heaven and pray that many yet unsaved will join us there. In the beautiful Name of our Savior Jesus, amen.
