“No More Lip Service!”

“No More Lip Service!”(Ez.33:30-33).
“As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them, you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
Our people say “the animal that has been destined for death does not hear the sound of the bell around the neck of the hunting dog.” They also say, “By the time a woman knew how to sing dirges, all her children were already dead.”
Quite often, the words of God’s messengers to the people are like water poured on a duck’s back. The messenger’s words are often like a bereaved person wailing in the market.
God told Ezekiel to tell the Jerusalem remnants living in exile that as a result of their disobedience he will cause the remnants living in ruins to fall by the sword, those out in the country to be devoured by wild animals, and those in the strongholds and caves to die of plagues. In fact, God’s plan was a complete desolation of the land ‘because of all the detestable things they have done.”
Quite often, instead of listening and acting on God’s word through his messengers, we prefer listening to them as if we are in a theatre being entertained by a standoff comedian.
The LORD declares that when we harden our hearts to his words, what he has promised to do will come to pass so that we “will know that a prophet has been among” us.
It is good to listen to the prophet’s words and put them to practice and to purge our desires from the greed of unjust gains!
Prayer: LORD, in your mercy, soften our hearts when we hear your word and prompt us to put it into practice and not to be greedy for unjust gains. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
25/02/2025.