Remember God doesn't limit Himself to nice people.
| posted 1/30/2009
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It's easy to spot a person who just doesn't fit in. She may be the young woman with stringy hair who tells long stories about her hardships and can't seem to hold a job. She may be the older woman who talks too loudly about her grandchildren and doesn't seem to notice if you edge away. Or she may be the intense woman with bad breath who always whispers something about her health directly into your face.
Few of us really like spending time with people who lack social skills. Sometimes they aren't even honest, responsible, or well, nice. Becoming friends with people like these is like putting yourself into briers and thorns or among scorpions (2:6).
But God is not just the God of nice people. He chooses to befriend all kinds of people not likely to enhance your social standing or even give you an afternoon of comfortable conversation. God called Ezekiel to be His messenger to the Israelites deported to Babylon. God could have abandoned His people there (they had done everything possible to make themselves unacceptable to Him). But He didn't. God sent Ezekiel to be His representative.
God may also ask you to represent Him to someone few people would befriend. If so, know that you carry with you the friendship of God. (See also Zechariah 4:1-10; Mark 2:13-17; 1 Corinthians 10:31-11.)
Good Words to Remember:
(The Lord said:) "Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel … And you son of man, do not be afraid … You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious." Ezekiel 2:3-7
Today's Challenge:
Is God asking you to befriend someone who isn't "nice' today? If so, who?
Copyright 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.
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