Scripture: Ezekiel 4:4-5
Now, lie on your left side, and set the guilt of the house of Israel on it. For the length of time that you lie on your side, you will bear their punishment. I appoint to you three hundred ninety days, one day for each year of their guilt. So you will bear the punishment of the house of Israel.
Thought for the Day: The prophets were asked to do strange things, and in this case, Ezekiel was asked to sleep on his left side for 390 days to represent the 390 years that Israel had sinned against God. Can you imagine the initial conversation between Ezekiel and God. “You may find this to be a strange request, Ezekiel, but I want…” Just yesterday, I made a strange request of two people (thanks Tammy and Pam). You’ll learn more about it on Ash Wednesday, but the request started with a chuckle and then the words, “This may sound strange to you, but…” In the life of faith, those kinds of comments are for the purpose of making a point. In the case of the prophet, it was to symbolize an important idea that needed to be communicated beyond words. This is true in regard to our spiritual lives as well. The spiritual practices of silence and fasting, for instance, sound almost counterproductive. You expect to hear God say, “This will sound strange to you, but I’d like for you to stop eating for a while and ponder what it means to hunger for me.” We could simply tell one another, “We should have a hungry spirit for God,” but there is a much greater impact upon the whole self when we practice the spiritual disciplines. They are teaching us on many levels.
Prayer: As strange as it may sound initially, lead us into those experiences that allow insight into what it means to follow in your ways, O God who calls us with a purpose. Amen.
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Sermon Title: If just one is left behind
