Obedience!

When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. v9

Ezekiel's calling was not an easy one. I talk about this with my friends sometimes - if you really want to be a prophet, there is a lot of difficulty and suffering that you're going to need to go through. Many of the prophets in the bible faced rejection, threats of death, etc. because they had to proclaim the Lord's judgment upon their unrighteousness.

Even if we don't have a prophetic gift, if we love our neighbor, we need to say difficult things sometimes (in a wise way). I wish it was a little easier to do this haha - sin really makes it difficult. If I notice something in someone else, it's usually because I have a similar sin - so it's like, blahhh you hypocrite. Or other times I don't have wisdom...other times the person isn't ready to hear it.  So yes, lots of obstacles, but still important to do it!

The bad example of not loving your brother that I think about in this context is Cain and Abel - if someone were to ask you if you're looking out for your brother, caring for them, warning them about sins, encouraging them, etc., would Cain's response be yours?

Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Genesis 4:9

Thinking about rebuke also makes me think about encouragement!

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Hebrews 3:13

If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. v13

Obedience is important. It's too easy to hear a promise from God and think that I can just continue to live the way I am living, and walk into that promise. Many of the promises of God (like the promised land) require obedience. LORD help me not be lazy! I want to receive Your promises! Guard my heart! Keep it pure and holy!