Whether they listen or not

You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. – Ezekiel 2.7

This is a tough challenge. God tells Ezekiel that he is to go and speak to the people and share his word. God also tells him that they are rebellious. And God says ‘you speak whether they listen or not.’

It is too easy to base our evangelism on who is going to listen. If we think folks aren’t going to listen it is easy to just forget about them.

We have been in Ireland a long time. One thing I have learned is that most people here choose not to listen. Our friends and associates and co-workers are wonderful people, but very few want to hear what we have to share.

So I can get discouraged and wonder if it is worth the bother to speak or should I just love them and be a good friend or neighbour. But ‘how will they hear without a preacher.’  Israel were a rebellious people. A world which rejects Christ is a rebellious world.

All their rebellion aside – nothing changes our responsibility to speak God’s words to those around us.

I can’t use ‘they just won’t listen’ as an excuse.