Always “Effective”

Do you ever wonder if what you do is really worth it? Sometimes we can feel this way on a job or, even more importantly, sometimes we can feel this way regarding relationships. We try and try and yet nothing seems to change. If you have someone in your life who is addicted to drugs or alcohol you probably have felt this way. You’ve tried to reason with them, pray for them, scream at them, and yet nothing seems to matter. I have felt this way more times than I’d like to admit. Today I began reading the book of Ezekiel; definitely not one of my favorites but one I read anyway. I found something to help me with “effectiveness” in chapter 2. Here is what I read: 4 For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ 5 As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.

Ezekiel was called by God to be a prophet to people who for the most part, would not listen to Him or care for what he was saying and doing. Yet God says, “Whether they hear or refuse, they will know that a prophet has been among them”. If Ezekiel ever wonders whether his time has been effective, he can fall back on this verse. God says that the effectiveness is that the people will know that Ezekiel has been among them. Ezekiel isn’t responsible for how the people react. That is between the people and God. If Ezekiel does what God says, he WILL BE effective. I find this very encouraging. As you pray for that person or serve that person and there seems to be no change, understand that he or she knows that you have been among them. They know that you love them in the name of Jesus. You are always effective. Perhaps you will get to see the results you want; perhaps not. Ezekiel never got to see any change. But that didn’t matter. Because he obeyed God, he was always effective. The same is true for you and me.