Do Not Be Afraid

Ezekiel 2:6

6And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, thought they are a rebellious house.

In one sentence God tells the prophet Ezekiel three times to not be afraid. God had called Ezekiel to speak on His behalf to the people of Israel. Israel was rebellious. But God said speak anyway. Israel would not listen, but God said speak anyway. The reason God told Ezekiel to speak anyway was because when He was ready to hand down the punishment they were warned about, they cannot say they did not know. The people of Israel could not claim ignorance.

What Some do not understand or know is that it takes a great deal of courage to say or write what God says to do so. We talked about this on the radio yesterday but it's been looming on my heart. It is difficult to share what God says to share. It takes a lot of courage because as humans, we do not like rejection. We do not want to be scorned for our words. Yet, when God says to speak, we must speak. When God says to write, we must write. When it is pressing on us til we cannot breathe, it must be said. Have you ever been afraid to tell someone the truth? Have you ever been afraid to say what was on your heart to say? Do you know that if God laid it on your heart, then it needs to be said at the time He has specified? If it is not accepted, God will make a way so that at the proper time it will be. If it is ignored, God will set things in motion so that at some point, it can no longer be ignored.

Do not be afraid. God is greater than what any man can say or do on earth. God ordains your steps, your waking up, your ability to breathe. As the word says, man withers like the grass. No one can outdo God. Do not be afraid.