Ezekiel 8:3 “He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located.” 

ATTENTION GETTER

When I read this verse, my first thought was I bet that hurt.  Haha.  Having your hair yanked is not fun.  Ezekiel is lifted up by the Lord to see what is going on “in secret” among the people.  If you read the rest of chapter 8 you will see what he saw.  The people had deserted God and were worshipping all sorts of other pagan gods.  God had to get Ezekiel’s attention.  He had to make him aware of what was going on.

Does God need to tug on your hair to get your attention?  Really?  Are you that oblivious to what is going on around you?  Are you blind to your own disobedience?  God will get our attention.  He will NOT let His children continue down the road to destruction.  He will judge.  And that is not a threat.  It’s a promise.  But anything He does is for our good, to bring us back to Him.

TEACHING MOMENT

I bet you have to occasionally point out to little Susie or Elrod the errors of their way.  I bet they don’t see what they are doing as wrong.  In our society today, anything goes, or so it seems.  If you point out any sin you are seen as prudish or intolerant.  Don’t let your children’s behaviors become “acceptable” just because everyone else is doing it.

Remember – you are being used by the Lord Jesus to guide them toward holiness.  Holiness demands sacrifice.  Holiness demands giving up those things of the world that will drag you down.  Holiness demands keeping their little eyes on Jesus and not the world.

What kind of example are you living?  Is there ANYTHING in your life you do NOT want your children to emulate?  If there is, stop it!  I could name things here, but there is no need.  If you are a follower of Christ, you know exactly what those things are.  Be the example for others to follow.

Father of holiness, instill in me the desire to be holy.  Give me the passion to abandon any and all things that would hold me hostage to this world.  Break the chains of worldly desires and allow me to live in a way that honors You.