God Puts Christians on the Case – September 9, 2026
Read: Ezekiel 33:7-11
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” Ezekiel 33:7,11
God Puts Christians on the Case
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
You may be familiar with the cartoon TV series Paw Patrol. A group of dogs serve as emergency first responders. A human named Ryder leads them. If someone in Adventure Bay needs help, they call Ryder. Then Ryder sends the Paw Patrol from their lookout tower to rescue the person in danger.
If you have seen the show, it is impossible to imagine Ryder or the pups hearing about someone in danger and saying, “That’s not our problem.”
Imagine how shocking it would be if a firetruck drove away from a burning house, a police officer covered his eyes during a bank robbery, or an ambulance sat at the station instead of going to a bad car accident! First responders are responsible for noticing danger and helping people.
God gave Ezekiel a similar responsibility. Ezekiel was a spiritual watchman. God told him to warn the Israelites about the deadly danger of continuing in sin. God gives us opportunities to watch out for people, too. God does not want tattletales. He does not want us snooping around, hoping to catch someone in sin. But when someone we love is heading toward spiritual danger, we should not simply say, “That’s not my problem.” That would be like the Paw Patrol sitting on their paws or firefighters, police officers, or ambulance drivers not doing their job.
Sin is even more dangerous than a fire or accident. Unrepented sin separates people from God and leads to eternal death. Yet God does not enjoy punishing sinners. He says, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” God wants them to turn from sin and receive life from him.
So, God puts Christians in positions to help watch over one another and to help each other be turned away from sin. Parents watch over their children. Pastors watch over their congregations. Teachers watch over their students. Christian friends and family members lovingly watch out for one another.
How do we recognize spiritual danger? We listen to God’s Word—not merely our own opinions. Then we lovingly share what God says. God uses his Word to expose sin, lead people to repentance, and show them their Savior. Jesus carried every sin to the cross so that sinners could be forgiven and live.
God puts Christians on the case—but God’s powerful Word performs the rescue!
Prayer:
Dear Father in heaven, thank you for putting people in my life who watch over me and lovingly warn me about sin. Help me to take their words to heart. Give me the courage to help rescue others from their sin. Amen.
The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.
Questions for Younger Children
- What important job did God give Ezekiel?
- Does God want sinners to die, or does he want them to turn to him and live?
Questions for Elementary Age Children
- How can we tell whether something is sinful—by our opinions or by God’s Word?
- Who are some trusted adults who can help you when someone is doing something wrong or dangerous?
Questions for Middle School and Above
- Why might someone be tempted to say, “That’s not my problem,” when a friend is caught in sin?
- How does God use both his warning about sin and his promise of forgiveness in Jesus to rescue someone?
