Prophets Can Only Warn, It Is People Who Choose

Prayer-Soldier

Prophets Can Only Warn, It Is People Who Choose

Scripture:

And the spirit entered into me after that he spoke to me, and he set me upon my feet: and I heard him speaking to me, and saying: Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people, that has revolted from me, they, and their fathers, have transgressed my covenant even unto this day. And they to whom I send you are children of a hard face, and of an obstinate heart: and you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: If so be they at least will hear, and if so be they will forbear, for they are a provoking house: and they shall know that there has been a prophet in the midst of them. (Ezekiel 2:2-5)

And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. For which thing, thrice I besought the Lord that it might depart from me. And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for you: for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

And going out from there, he went into his own country; and his disciples followed him. And when the Sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were in admiration at his doctrine, saying: How came this man by all these things? And what wisdom is this that is given to him, and such mighty works as are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon? Are not also his sisters here with us? And they were scandalized in regard of him. And Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and in his own house, and among his own kindred. And he could not do any miracles there, only that he cured a few that were sick, laying his hands upon them. And he wondered because of their unbelief, and he went through the villages round about teaching. (Mark 6:1-6)

Reflection:

The Lord has sent prophets to tell the children of His creation of His desire for them and to warn them away from evil; but the choice as to whether to follow Him, He still leaves to each one. The prophets can only warn, but they cannot force what is not in the heart. Still, the people should take heed, for the warning to turn from the ways of evil is for the benefit of the people; yet so many are so easily deceived and consumed by the world that they fail to understand.

The one who is filled with the Holy Spirit knows what is behind the commandments of God, which is simply to share in His love. He seeks that we do no harm to one another and that we open our hearts to Him. The arrogant will seek to walk their own way, but He will call to them until the day to which they will be held to account.

As some are deceived by the world, they take issue with the faithful and persecute what they do not understand. Those strong in faith will stand up to persecution for they know that to follow the way of God will lead to a time where evil cannot follow them and the torments allowed in this world will no longer have power. As He suffered for us so that death may be conquered, the faithful should not fear the challenges they may face for what is suffered in this short time will fade away to be replaced by the eternal love of the Lord.

The challenge for people is to understand their existence in a world they did not create. Though He has sent His prophets and His anointed, the children of His creation seek to understand only by what they see and not by what may be found in the heart. Even as He walked the earth preaching His message, many could not sense what was before them, yet many thronged to Him. So it has been through the generations that He seeks to guide, seeks to love, yet so many fail to see.

What we cannot find with our eyes we may still find with our heart. Through prayer, we open ourselves to Him. Blessed are those who are guided by the Holy Spirit rather than the ways of the world, for they will find the path to heaven.

Through the generations, some understand what is asked of us by God, but others are deceived by the ways of the world. Some only walk through the motions while others seek selfishness and pervert their profession of faith. Others only seek to follow a portion of the Word, but disregard what appears inconvenient to their day.

As Jesus walked the world, He sought to teach through parables and works; but though He stood before the people, many still refused to see and remained weak in faith. If those who saw Him did not understand, what hope, then, do we have in this day to comprehend the Word and what is asked of us by God? The hope is found in how we share the Word, How we study the Word, how we pray to understand the Word, how we invite the Holy Spirit into our heart; for through all these ways we will discern and learn the truth; through all these ways, we will learn what was done for us by His only begotten Son for the love of the children of His creation.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier