Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Ephesians 3:20-21.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2.

In our chapter, Ezekiel 33, Ezekiel is again affirmed as the watchman for the people. “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die, and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.’” v. 7-9. As it said in the notes below, this next verse is a turning point. “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?” Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’” v. 10-11. How do we turn away from sin when sin is so pervasive? We stop looking to the world for answers. We turn to Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, and Him only. His ways are not the ways of this world. “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. When all this comes true – and it surely will – then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” v. 30-33.

How do we turn to God? He turns us to Him. In My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers, talking about Peter and Jesus after the resurrection: “Do you love Me?” (John 21:17)…Unless we are experiencing the hurt of facing every deception about ourselves, we have hindered the work of the Word of God in our lives. The Word of God inflicts hurt on us more than sin ever could, because sin dulls our senses. But this question of the Lord intensifies our sensitivities to the point that this hurt produced by Jesus is the most exquisite pain conceivable. It hurts not only on the natural level, but also on the deeper spiritual level. “For the Word of God is living and powerful, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit” – to the point that no deception can remain (Hebrews 4:12). When the Lord asks us this question, it is impossible to think and respond properly, because when the Lord speaks directly to us, the pain is too intense. It causes such a tremendous hurt that any part of our life which may be out of line with His will can feel the pain. There is never any mistaking the pain of the Lord’s Word by His children, but the moment that pain is felt is the very moment at which God reveals His truth to us.”

When all of this comes true – and it surely will – is a promise. Our God is faithful. He loves us too much to leave us in our sins that are leaving us dead even as we walk in the ways of this world. The Holy Spirit is our watchman and helper, and He will guide us forward to walk with God as we allow Him to lead us. Peter denied Jesus three times before Jesus hung on the cross because Peter was so afraid. But death could not hold Jesus and it cannot hold us. One day we will all stand before Jesus, just as Peter stood before Him after His resurrection. And just like Peter, we will look into His eyes of love for us. Peter was hurt because Jesus asked Him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know all things, You know that I love You.” John 21:17. Lord, You know all things…when all of this comes true – and it surely will…Then He said to him, “Follow Me!”