Ezekiel's picture of the watchman...
Illustration
Ezekiel's picture of the watchman giving warning to his people of impending danger, reminded me of the difficult task faced by many preachers in speaking God's Word when the results can be costly. Many of us do not want to hear the word of the watchman.
A young minister, assigned to a church in rural Kentucky, delivered his first sermon -- on the evils of drinking. "Tread lightly, my son," warned the deacon after the service. "One third of the congregation work for a distillery."
On the following Sunday, the minister talked about the evils of gambling. "Tread lightly, my son," cautioned the deacon. "One third of the congregation breed race horses. During the service on the third Sunday, the minister gave a sermon on the evils of smoking. "Tread lightly," warned the deacon. "One third of the congregation grow tobacco."
On the fourth Sunday, after thinking it over carefully, the minister delivered his most powerful sermon yet -- on the evils of fishing within the territorial waters of a foreign country. How many of us are guilty of toning down the Word of God when it comes to us as a word of warning?
A young minister, assigned to a church in rural Kentucky, delivered his first sermon -- on the evils of drinking. "Tread lightly, my son," warned the deacon after the service. "One third of the congregation work for a distillery."
On the following Sunday, the minister talked about the evils of gambling. "Tread lightly, my son," cautioned the deacon. "One third of the congregation breed race horses. During the service on the third Sunday, the minister gave a sermon on the evils of smoking. "Tread lightly," warned the deacon. "One third of the congregation grow tobacco."
On the fourth Sunday, after thinking it over carefully, the minister delivered his most powerful sermon yet -- on the evils of fishing within the territorial waters of a foreign country. How many of us are guilty of toning down the Word of God when it comes to us as a word of warning?
