See and Say
Daily Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 40-42
Daily Focus Passage: Ezekiel 40
The prophet Ezekiel received a command from the Lord to look, listen, pay attention, and declare in Ezekiel 40. This command centered around Ezekiel receiving the vision of the temple and the responsibility to share this vision with the people of Israel. The call to the prophet centered around the basic expectation to see the vision and tell the people the truth. Today, believers hold the same expectation. We must seek to look, listen, and pay attention to the Lord so that we may declare to the people the truth of the Lord.
LOOK
The prophet was commanded to look and see what the Lord would do. This calling centered on the vision of the temple. The call to Ezekiel models how we must receive the command to look. The command to look centers on seeing the work of the Lord. We must intentionally seek to see how God has worked in the past, how he is working in the present, and how he demonstrates his work in the future. When we look for the work of the Lord, we see his holiness and greatness. We find hope and affirmation in his work because of his sovereign nature and compassion. In what ways are you seeking to see the Lord at work?
LISTEN
The prophet Ezekiel received the command to listen to the Lord. Listening means that the individual intentionally focuses on receiving the information and responding appropriately. Believers today carry the expectation to listen correctly to the Lord. We must strive to listen to the Word of the Lord. When we hear the Word of the Lord, we set our hearts to receive the truth and allow the truth to transform us and become part of our lives. Likewise, we must listen to the calling of the Lord. This occurs through spending time with the Lord and seeking his will and guidance. When you consider your life, are you seeking to listen to the Lord intentionally and respond to his voice appropriately?
PAY ATTENTION
The prophet Ezekiel was commanded to pay attention to what he saw and heard. The command to pay attention indicates that Ezekiel needed to point his life in the direction of the Lord and intently listen and respond to the Lord. Today, we must set our lives toward paying attention to the Lord. This setting of our lives occurs when we set our hearts to hear from the Lord, set our minds to understand the Lord and set our souls to the Lord. The heart, mind, and soul setting indicates complete surrender to the Lord and total reliance on the Lord. When you consider your life, can you pay attention to the Lord?
REPORT
The prophet received the command to tell the people the truth he received. Ezekiel could not listen and see without declaring the truth to the people. The same truth exists today for believers. We must recognize that the calling to see and hear from the Lord only partially fulfills the commission received. We must declare the truth to the people so they may listen to the Word of the Lord and respond to him. We must say the message of the Lord to the people so that they may know the truth and respond to the Lord. Do you seek to understand the ways and will of the Lord without the intentional desire to share with others? How can you develop a heart that desires to share the received word with others?
