If the Word is only heard but not obeyed, deception will creep into the minds and hearts of believers. James warns of this peril in the first chapter of his book: Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22). While studying is great, it won’t amount to much without proper application. RELATED: Our Urban Garden: The Water of the Word Nothing works as it should and they wonder why their lives are in such a mess! Well, they wouldn’t be in this crazy predicament had they obeyed the manual's instructions in the first place. They read the Bible, throw it out, and try to do life their own way. Well, that’s what happens to so many Christians today. However, have you ever read through the manual, threw it out, and then tried putting together the furniture piece on your own? Didn’t turn out so well, did it? Have you ever bought a new piece of furniture that required at-home assembly? Usually, those projects come with a clear-cut manual that includes precise directions for building the aforementioned piece. When the time came for God to bring a revival to the Jewish people, whom did He choose? Ezra, the young man who had diligently searched out God's Word for His Truth, His message, and His heart. ( Speaking of midnight candles, check out the new Candace Cameron Bure candle line from DaySpring! ) He treaded in the waters of the Law and, by daily practice, became an expert in God’s Word. The Strong’s Concordance gives further insight into the verb to seek and provides the following definitions: “to tread or frequent, to follow for pursuit or search, to ask or seek, to diligently inquire.” With these words in mind, can you just imagine Ezra searching through the ancient scrolls of the Torah and the writings of the old prophets, diligently seeking to know God’s words and His heart? Whether by the dawn of the morning sun or by the flickering light of a midnight candle, Ezra was at his post, absorbing, searching, and pursuing frequently the Word of the Lord. Several other translations render this phrase as “tenaciously studied,” “determined to study,” “worked hard to know,” “and set his heart to study.” In other words, Ezra was a student of God’s Word. The Bible says he prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord. The second element of Ezra’s success was his disposition towards the Word of God. With a heart that was prepared and aligned with God’s purposes, Ezra was a perfect fit for his divine mission! His perpendicular position will make him stand contrary to the world’s system but will bring him parallel with God’s standards. Rather, he will stand erect, unflinchingly set towards God’s Truth. He has learned that even when culture sways one way, he will refuse to bend to its demands. A prepared person stands erect and perpendicular. Interestingly, the word prepare in the Strong’s also implies “to be erect or stand perpendicular.” I find this definition extremely insightful because of the intensity and position it renders. He directed his affection on God’s Word and fastened his eyes on the will of God. And when God needed a man who could lead a nation into His next great purpose, guess who was equipped and qualified? Faithful Ezra who had prepared his heart. Widely respected as an editor of the Old Testament who helped to contemporize the language of some of the older books, Ezra furthered his legacy as a prolific Biblical writer by penning four books of the Old Testament (Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 Chronicles, and 2 Chronicles).īefore Ezra was ever used by God in a significant way, he was behind the scenes serving God faithfully. He took time to establish his heart towards the things of God. He was both a priest and a scribe, a leader, a revivalist, and an intercessor. Dispatched by the king of Persia, he led the second wave of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem, completed the beautification of the Temple, brought spiritual reform to the people, and initiated the last great revival in the Old Testament. While he is one of those obscure Old Testament authors, his influence wraps itself around a key piece of Jewish history, primarily the exile and restoration period of 458-444 B.C.Ī contemporary of Nehemiah and Malachi, Ezra was a prominent figure in the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. Over the last year or so, I have been completely captivated by the story of Ezra. If you click through and purchase a product, our website will earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links.
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