SCRIPTURE
“At that time your mouth will be opened; You will speak with Him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 24:27
SPOTLIGHT
In April 2020, COVID 19 was rampant throughout New York City. Everything had been shut down, and everyone had been encouraged to stay at home in order to be safe.
One energized, 84-year-old grandmother, refused to follow the strong encouragement of her children to stay at home. Almost daily she would go out for a walk. Easter Sunday was no exception. The churches were closed, but this elderly woman decided she needed some groceries at the local food market. Early in the morning she walked to the store where she found a long line of people waiting for it to open. Joining the people in line, all the while practicing social distancing, she waited for an hour. Suddenly everyone disbursed. The people at the front of the line, who had stood for the longest time, decided to read the sign posted on the door. It read “ Aldi’s is closed Easter Sunday.” Grandma and all the people in front of her had been waiting in line for over an hour because they had not read the sign. Maybe they ignored it. Maybe they presumed it was for someone else. The fact is the sign was clearly posted to communicate an important message.
Are you a good sign reader? Do you pay attention to signs? Do you read a sign and consider what attention should be taken? Have you ever missed reading a sign because you were doing something else, only to later realize you had wasted a lot of time? Perhaps you didn’t read the road sign, and drove 25 miles out of your way. How many people have gotten lost because they did not READ THE SIGN?
A sign is something that communicates information, or instruction, needed by people. On a public restroom door, you have a sign with the words, “MEN” or “WOMEN.” Perhaps it may be a picture sign of a man or a woman. When driving on the highway, you have numerous signs, some giving direction, others instructing about speed, and still others informing about bumps, or roughness. Sometimes people give signs to others by using a gesture. If you are on a bicycle, you put your left arm straight out to signal a left turn. A right turn is an arm gesture made into the shape of an “L”. A sign can even be an object such as flowers, given to someone to express love and appreciation. God said in Genesis 1:14, that the lights in the sky were to be signs. Every time you see the sun, moon, or stars, you are reading signs from God. All of this points to the fact that signs are greatly needed,and have been used down through time to inform and instruct.
The book of Ezekiel is filled with signs. In the NIV translation, “sign” appears 8 times. All 24 chapters should be read as a big sign describing the future. It is filled with prophetic events that have occurred, and are yet to occur. Ezekiel should be read simultaneously to reading Daniel and Revelation. Great insight will be gained. Read about the prophetic signs to come, so that you will anticipate the Rapture, and Jesus Christ’s coming.
In Ezekiel 20:12,20, the prophet identified that God desires the Sabbath to be honored so that believers will remember His holiness, and love for them. Sunday is the Christian Sabbath. Read Sunday as a sign from God. How important it is for you to take time every week to set aside Sunday to worship God with other believers, so that you will be reminded of God’s holiness, and love.
Become a sign for God. Ezekiel, the prophet, was directed by God to become a sign for Him. Read Ezekiel 12, and note verses 6 and 11. Then read chapter 24, and note verses 24, and 27. God used Ezekiel to convey a very important message to the Israelites. Like Ezekiel, become a Godly sign to be read by people. May your behavior direct people to want to know God in a personal way. Let your light so shine that people will become Christ followers. Long to be read as a living sign directing people to know Jesus.
SOMETHING TO DO
Consider how your behavior is a sign of God’s love for people. Wearing a piece of jewelry such as a cross, or carrying a big Bible is not what counts. How are your words and deeds a sign pointing people to how Jesus Christ is at the center of your life? Write down some things you regularly do that would be noticed by people that reflect your faith in Jesus Christ.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I long to become a sign for You. Show me how I can convey in my talk, and walk, that You are the reason for me to live. I want people to read me so that they will be directed to You. AMEN!