“When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate, and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate: no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered, but each shall go out straight ahead.” (Ezekiel 46:9)

It feels strange that this is what stood out to me because it FEELS like this isn’t spiritual. What could it matter which gate someone exits from? It may not matter, except for the fact that the Lord said, “Exit straight ahead.”

The issue isn’t really which gate I should go out. The issue is my heart’s willingness to do what the Lord says. This principle applies to gates and to everything else the Lord tells me to do.

Many years ago, my mother was saved and baptized in an independent Baptist church. Some years afterward, she moved to Oklahoma. When she wanted to join a Southern Baptist church, the pastor said she needed to be baptized in one. So she was baptized in that church. I said, “But mom, you were already baptized.” Her answer: “Well, I wanted to be part of that church, so I did what he said I needed to do.”

Now, I still think the pastor was wrong to demand that she be rebaptized. But I appreciate my mother’s heart to do whatever she was told. Similarly, I need to be committed to doing what the Lord says, no matter what I or anyone else thinks about the command.

Father, please help me to grow in my spiritual maturity, so that I respond appropriately and immediately to your commands. Amen.

“Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.” So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.”

Wow! The Lord asked Ezekiel to do some hard things. I can’t imagine being commanded not to weep and mourn the death of my wife. No tears on my cheeks?

“And on the next morning, I did as I was commanded.” (18)

I’m thankful 1) for Ezekiel’s model of obedience, and 2) that God has not called me to do that.

What we need to remember is that God equips us to do what He calls us to do. And, we are not alone. He goes with us. I’m afraid that fear or “I don’t want to” keeps us from doing amazing things God desires from us. Sometimes we don’t even try. I never ate pumpkin pie until I was late in high school because I “didn’t like it.” However, I had never tried it. Then, when I eventually tried it, I liked it. In fact, pumpkin pie is one of my favorite pies now. I missed a lot of pleasure because I was not willing to try.

If we transfer this mindset into spiritual matters, imagine what we miss out on. And imagine what others miss out on if we play it safe or seek comfort over obedience.

Father, help me to have a spirit of complete obedience. Help me to have a daring spirit, knowing that you are with me. Amen.

“Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord has not spoken. The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God.'” (Ezekiel 22‬:‭26‬-‭31‬)

This is a rough word from the Lord. The priests, the princes, the prophets, and the people were all corrupt in one way or another. In response to these conditions, the Lord said, “‘And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.’ Since he found none, he poured out His wrath on them.”

Father, please help me to be found faithful. Amen.