Watchmen

Today we read (www.lifejournal.cc) of Paul's goodbye to the leaders of the Ephesian church.  I am particularly stirred by Acts 20:26- Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, ²⁷for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.   It reminds me a lot of another passage from Ezekiel 33.  Don't lose me now.  Carefully read the following passage.
Ezekiel 33:1-9-The word of the LORD came to me: ² "Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, ³and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, ⁴then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. ⁵ He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. ⁶ But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.
⁷ "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. ⁸ If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. ⁹ But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
The watchman's tower was on the wall of the city.  He was to inform the city when the enemy was coming.  Like a watchman on the wall, those that walk with God gain discernment in seeing the spiritual battles that are taking place. They see (better than those without the Lord or without a steady walk with God), not perfectly but more clearly, where the enemy is approaching.  They see the cost of not having Christ.  It is their job (that's our job, you know), to warn others.  Warn others who walk the wrong paths.  Warn others who so desperately need the Lord.  We must warn.  What they do with the warning is between them and God, but we must warn!  We must be watchmen!
I pray today that your burden for the lost and wayward will grow stronger and you will faithfully keep your watch on the wall!