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March 21
BE
NOT REBELLIOUS
by Ray Prinzing
"Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a
rebellious nation that hath rebelled against Me. -- Be not afraid of
them, neither afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be
with thee, and thou doest dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of
their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a
rebellious house. -- But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto
thee; be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house." (Ezekiel 2:3,6,8).
This certainly was some
assignment given to the prophet, being sent to deliver a message to
such a congregation. But notice the three-fold guard that was
needed. (1) Be not afraid of their faces, do not let the
outward appearances disturb you. (2) Be not afraid of their words,
do no let your mind be upset by their answers, even if they are
barbed words, like unto briers and thorns, warring against you, (3)
But most of all, give special attention not to allow their spirit of
rebellion to work in you until you become rebellious also, and then
you start to rebel against their rebellion.
There is a spirit of
rebellion in the earth today that is unparalleled in all history.
We see not only the rioting and protest demonstrations, but this
"rebellious spirit" seeps into the hearts of men, causing a disquiet
and inner agitation, until most unexpectedly we find ourselves
rebelling against the rebellion, and we begin to "lose our cool," as
the modern expression so aptly describes it.
Moses, the meekest of
men, patiently bore the complaints of the people. Day by day
he suffered long with them, his heart tender towards the people, and
in constant communion with his God. But came the day when "they
angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with
Moses for their sakes: because they proved his spirit, so that he
spake unadvisedly with his lips." (Psalm 106:32-33).
Daily we would walk in
confidence in the Lord, positively committing our way unto Him, yet
we would do well to be on guard lest at any time our foot would
slip, and we begin to rebel in negative expressions.
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