Get Up, Stand Up: Ezekiel 1.28b-2.8

Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. Ezekiel 2.2

There are many things that come to mind right away when I think about standing up. I think about the issue of 'standing up' for rights or for a good cause. But I also am reminded of the many requirements a person must meet before he is able to physically stand up.

• There is a measure of independence required to stand up. You cannot stand up until you can do it for yourself.
• It takes maturity to stand. You cannot stand before you are old enough, or mature enough, to physically do it.
• It requires balance to stand up. You cannot lean to far to one side or the other if you want to stand.
• Standing also needs responsibility. You must be more dependable and responsible to stand on your own.

1. Ezekiel is called by God. v. 1. There are many stories in the Bible of people who are called by God. God asks Ezekiel to "stand up." This is his way of getting Ezekiel in the process of serving him. He is called to stand for the people of God and with the people of God.
2. It is the Holy Spirit that actually stands him up. v. 2. The response of Ezekiel to the presence of God is to fall down on his face. He stays on his face until God raises him up. This is great news. When God calls us he is going to work with us so that we can accomplish his will.
   
3. Ezekiel is called to preach, whether there are people to hear or not. v. 5. We are not necessarily called to success, but to faithfulness. We may be called to reach people who are not there to hear. Or we may need to reach out to those who have no desire to listen.

Obedience vs. Faith: Ezekiel 37.1-10

Although not everyone will agree, I believe that obedience to God is more important than faith. After all, the greatest faith in the world will benefit no one if the owner of the faith is unable to do God's will.

And sometimes, obedience makes no sense. God requests things us us that we do not comprehend, that we do not like, or that we want no one to know about. Obedience can be embarrassing for us while faith is the domain of the lions of Christianity.

We love the ones with faith. We put them on pedestals, while the obedient often toil in anonymity for years. The one who teaches the children's class or cleans the sanctuary is overlooked as we praise the one who makes the big splash.

Obedience is hard. It requires discipline, practice and effort. We often end up being punished when we fail and ridiculed when we succeed.

Faith certainly seems like the better option, but obedience is more important.

1. Ezekiel lacked faith when questioned by God. (v. 3) He appears to be somewhat agnostic about the issue of whether or not the dry bones could live. He was so non-committal that his response was simply, 'you know, Lord.'
2. God's commands to us are not based on whether or not we have faith. (v. 4) Ezekiel definitely did not have faith, but God gave the order anyway. The example is clear: We are to obey whether or not we have faith in God. Obedience is more important than faith.
3. Ezekiel obeys God without regard to his level of faith. (v. 7) Even though Ezekiel was not sure about the outcome of his preaching, he obeyed God. He did what God asked.
4. In response to Ezekiel's obedience, the Holy Spirit brings life. (9-10) God honors our obedience. He never asks us to do something that is useless. God always has a purpose. When Ezekiel obeyed, the Holy Spirit was able to bring life.
5. When we obey, our faith is established and strengthened. As we allow God to work, He will work. As he works, our faith in his work grows.

Try to get faith. Work on your faith. Strengthen it. Nurture it. Exercise it. But do not neglect the importance of obedience. Above everything else, obey God.