“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me.” (Ezekiel 3:17, NKJV)

The watchman had a very important job. He would stand on top of the wall of a fortified city. If an enemy was approaching, he would sound the alarm and notify everyone so that they would be prepared.

God called Ezekiel to be a watchman for the house of Israel. These were primarily the people of Judah who had been taken captive to Babylon. It was Ezekiel’s responsibility to listen to God and give warnings to others as the LORD directed. If God said that wicked people would die, and Ezekiel gave them no warning, then they would die in their sins. But God would hold Ezekiel responsible for their blood. But if Ezekiel did warn them, and they didn’t repent, then the wicked people would die in their sins, but Ezekiel would deliver his own soul. The same was true of righteous people who turned away from their righteousness. If Ezekiel didn’t warn them, then they would die in their sins, and none of their righteous deeds would be remembered. But God would hold Ezekiel responsible for their blood. But if Ezekiel warned them, and they listened and turned away from their sins, then they would live and Ezekiel would save himself.

We are not Old Testament prophets, but we are New Testament disciples of Christ. Has God also made us watchmen? Does He want us to warn those who commit sins? Does He want us to warn those who are perishing because they have not believed in Jesus Christ?

In Acts 20, as the apostle Paul addressed the Ephesian elders on his way back from his third missionary journey, he said:

“Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” (Acts 20:26–27, NKJV)

Paul held nothing back that was helpful but told them everything they needed to know, proclaiming “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). In other words, he gave them the bad news of what would happen if they didn’t repent as well as the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

But does this apply to every believer? Are we all responsible for one another? The author of Hebrews tells us:

“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:12–13, NKJV)

Indeed, God wants us to look after each other in love. We are to be watchmen observing our surroundings and caring for one another. If someone is caught in a sin, then we are to be spiritual and restore him or her gently, watching ourselves so that we are not tempted (Galatians 6:1). May God help us to be a family looking out for one another in love, grace and truth.