Sep 30th

1 Kings 2     Ezekiel 33     Galatians 6     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

I like being able to see the steeple of Christchurch from miles away. Sometimes walking in the country a view will open up and there it is, clear and unmistakeable on the skyline, pointing upwards. Brunel’s suspension bridge gets onto the brochures but Norton’s steeple (and who has heard of him?) gets the skyline.

Ezekiel is called to be a watchman, standing on the walls of Jerusalem to scan the sky-line, look-out for a distant cloud of dust or a blurry shape – the first signs of the approaching armies of Assyria bent on destroying the city. His is an awesome responsibility. He is accountable to the townsfolk. Warn them of the approaching danger and responsibility passes to them. Fail to warn them and Ezekiel will be responsible for their death. It makes chilling reading.

Seeing Christchurch on the sky-line makes me feel proud. But it also reminds me that Jesus has passed the baton to us. The reign of God is coming when God will reorder our world. Like Ezekiel’s watchman it is our task to scan the horizon for signs that He is already at work and invite people to join in. Ezekiel’s was a message of doom. Jesus’ is a message of rescue, of fulness, of a more abundant life lived in his presence. People are missing out if they do not hear this. It is down to us to make it known.

Who I am called to be a watchman to?

How can Christchurch be more than a steeple on the skyline for the people of Bristol?

(member of the congregation)