Ezekiel 22:30  – “(God said) I looked (searched and longed) for a man (person) from among them who would repair the wall (of righteousness and holiness) and stand in the gap (intercede) before Me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it, but I found none!”

A surprising challenge came to mind as I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today.   It was about investment, involvement, boldness, and willingness to be misbranded by the church and the world.

God challenged Ezekiel in Ezekiel 22, asking a probing question.  “Are you willing to pronounce judgment and confront sin, declaring guilt and warning of judgment?”   Do that today, and those inside and outside the church will label you a phobe of some kind and a purveyor of hate and intolerance.

Today, everything seems to be acceptable to many.   People can engage in all types of immoral and ungodly practices and yet hold positions in the church.   Drag Queens can read to children publicly.   Gender confusion is blamed on God, and if we speak against it, we are labeled as phobic and excessively intolerant.   Our silence or so-called tolerance is destroying lives.

That’s not love; it is abuse.   Love warns and corrects with the objective of restoration and wholeness.   Hate cowardly sits in silence and tries to convince itself that by ignoring sin, it is loving others.

Romans 1:24-32 needs to be read publicly.   Romans 5:1-5 reveals the healing process.   We need to turn to our Mercy Seat (Romans 3:25), Jesus.    There is no other name whereby we can be saved.   Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes… The righteousness by faith will live.” (Rom. 1:16-17).

The challenge to my heart was, “Will I let the fear of man and the likely misbranding of who I am and what I’m doing drive me to silence, or will I proclaim God’s Word, hoping to see people set free from delusion and perversion?”

Am I fully invested in the truth?  Do I have the courage and commitment to be bold and warn and sacrifice myself in the trenches of intercession for a lost, deluded, and dying world?   GOD is not confused, nor is He silent.   He desires to save us.   How much do we love Him?  That is reflected in how much we love others.   Love seeks the best good, and the best is not achieved by ignoring the destructiveness of sin.

Lord, help me to have a purified heart and a longing to see people free from the delusion and destructiveness of sin.  Help me boldly declare the gospel, knowing that Your Grace will set people free through repentance and faith!   Help me be willing to be an outcast in the eyes of the world and even the church, loving You and others enough to warn of evil.  Love covers a multitude of sins.   That does not mean excuse or give a place to operate, but beings the light of God’s truth and love to the heart.

My challenge may also be yours.   Are you willing to help?   How much do we love?

Father, I pray that you will help us to become fully invested in Your Truth!