Right Message and Time

Many Bible messages are largely positive and designed to inspire, teach, and encourage. But other messages are more negative or critical, designed to warn or to judge. With such extremes, it is essential that the right message is given to the right audience at the right time.

What was particularly troubling to God was that in Ezekiel’s time, messages were being given to the wrong people and were being spoken at the wrong time. Clearly, those delivering these inaccurate messages did not have discernment.

First, they disheartened the righteous. These people were doing the right thing and needed to be encouraged. Instead, these false prophets caused them to lose hope and to feel like failures.

At the same time, these false prophets “encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways.” These evil people needed to change, repent, and stop what they were doing. They needed to recognize the mistakes they had been making and realize that they were not pleasing to God. But they did not receive these necessary warnings, nor did they change.

How can we know the right message we are to deliver? How can we know the proper time to encourage or discourage? We need to be sensitive to the Spirit of God, follow His leading, and have discernment. Then we need to be faithful in every situation, carefully delivering the messages that God gives us to each person and at the right time.