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.
Ezekiel 33:7 NIV
In this verse, God focuses on the watchman, reasserting his role and declaring, “I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel.” This critical point forms the foundation upon which every ministry must be built. Unless God has appointed you, you cannot serve Him acceptably. When God said, “I have made you,” He stated a necessary precondition for anyone who would call himself a watchman. No man can become a watchman by his own desire or willingness to serve or do anything for God.
Today, many self-proclaimed watchmen assume this responsibility, not because God appointed them, but because they chose to. They may appear genuine in the eyes of men, but by God’s standards, they do not meet His requirements and demands. Therefore, let this truth be the foundation: unless God appoints a man, he cannot serve in God’s hand.
The next critical issue to consider from this verse is God’s expectation for everyone He has appointed as a watchman. God said, “Hear the word I speak.” This underscores that when God speaks, we must seek His word and pay careful attention to understand His message clearly. Therefore, the role of a watchman is inseparable from one who hears God’s word. In other words, a watchman is also a listener of God’s word.
Furthermore, God expects every believer to be a watchman. As stated in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free, and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. These verses testify that we are all members of the same body, which is Christ. Therefore, everyone is expected to stay connected to that body to fulfil their own role. We can form the body together by staying connected to the body, which is Christ.
As the Lord Jesus was about to depart, He spoke to the disciples in Matthew 28:18-20, saying that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. He then commissioned the disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything He has commanded. He assured them of His presence always, to the very end of the age. Therefore, no Christian is exempt.
In conclusion, no Christian is exempt from the responsibility of being a watchman. We must all strive to hear God’s voice carefully and diligently. By fulfilling this role, we can act as God’s instruments, guiding others towards salvation and preventing them from spiritual destruction.
Are you actively fulfilling the role of a watchman? Do you pay close attention to God’s Word, seeking His guidance? If not, let this be a wake-up call. Embrace your responsibility as a child of God. Be the voice for those in need, leading them to safety. Everyone is waiting on you. Rise to the call and be the watchman God has called you to be.
