179th Week, Ezra Chapters 8-9 Christ's Journey to the Cross

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Monday, Ezra Chapter 9

Ezra 9

Mindy Strayer

THOUGHT

Think for a minute how difficult your life would be if your spouse did not love the Lord Jesus Christ. Marriage is indeed a holy pairing. Ezra 9 is congruent with 2 Corinthians 6:14 where Paul warns Christians not to be yoked with unbelievers because it could cause them to compromise their faith. The Light cannot mix with the darkness.

What is important for us to examine in chapter 9 is Ezra’s reaction upon hearing about the peoples’ sin of marrying people from pagan populations. The Bible says that when Ezra heard of the sin of the Israelites, he tore his tunic and cloak, pulled hair from his head and beard and sat down appalled for quite some time. Ezra took time to be appalled. He took time to let the severity of this great sin soak in. And then, most importantly, the Bible says that he rose from his self-abasement and fell on his knees with his hands spread out to the Lord, and he prayed. He didn’t just sit and continue to stew over the sin. He cried out to the Lord in prayer and repentance.

God wants us to be appalled and saddened by sin, but we are not to just sit there and let our emotions control us and stifle us from acting to make things right with Him. Admission of guilt and asking for forgiveness through our prayers should be the first action we take when we become aware of our sin.

PRAYER

God, so many times in our lives we have stood guilty before You because of our sins. For who among us is able to stand in Your presence and not have a revelation of Your holiness and the depth of our uncleanness? By Your Holy Spirit you show us Your righteousness and holiness and how undeserving we are of Your mercy. But praise be to You, oh God, for the gift of forgiveness and grace through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross. Reveal the sin in our lives, Lord, so that we would be able to repent and seek Your forgiveness. I pray that our prayers are fervent and followed by action to right the wrong for the glory of Your name. AMEN

Tuesday, Ezra Chapter 10

Ezra 10

Verse 4

Mindy Strayer

Verse 4:  Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.

THOUGHT

Every leader needs encouragement. There are times when leaders will feel overburdened with situations or problems among those whom he leads. The weight of the problems can be too much, and their faith can waiver just as ours can. When a leader is discouraged and starts to lose faith, the pit that they find themselves in is likely a deep one because up until that point they have been able to absorb and handle much. But eventually the problems stack up so high that they are no longer able to see above them, and they crash, exhausted.

Shecaniah comes to Ezra and provides for him some much needed encouragement and support. No leader wants to feel like they are going at it alone or they start to ask themselves, “What the heck am I doing? 1f no one goes along with me, what good will it do?” Leaders need followers or nothing will get accomplished.

PRAYER

Lord, we recognize that in this Christian life, none of us are meant to carry burdens alone. Thank You for the people You have called to be in leadership roles. We pray Your blessings of strength, courage and wisdom in their lives. We pray also that we would step up and be encouragers to these people, letting them know that we support them and appreciate all their efforts. We ask this in Jesus Name.  AMEN

Wednesday, Ezra's Profile

Taken from NIV Life Application Bible

It is not personal achievement, but personal commitment to live for God, that is important.  Achievements are simply examples of what God can do through someone's life.  The most effective leaders spoken of in the bible had little awareness of the impact their lives had on others.  They were too busy obeying God to keep track of their successes.  Ezra fits that description.

About 80 years after the rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel, Ezra returned to Judah with about 2,000 men and their families.  He was given a letter from Artaxerxes instructing him to carry out a program of religious education.  Along with the letter came significant power.  But long before Ezra's mission began, God had shaped him in three important ways so that he would use the power well.  First, as a scribe, Ezra dedicated himself to carefully studying God's Word.  Second, he intended to apply and obey personally the commands he discovered in God's Word.  Third, he was committed to teaching others both God's Word and its application to life.  READING AND UNDERSTANDING GOD'S WORD IS IMPORTANT!!!

Knowing Ezra's priorities, it is not surprising to note his actions when he arrived in Jerusalem.  The people had disobeyed God's command not to marry women of foreign nations.  On a cold and rainy day, Ezra addressed the people and made it clear they had sinned.  Confession, repentance, and action were needed.  The people admitted their sin and devised a plan to deal with the problem.  

This initial effort on Ezra's part set the stage for what Nehemiah would later accomplish.  Ezra continued his ministry under Nehemiah, and the two were used by God to start a spiritual movement that swept the nation following the rebuilding of Jerusalem.  

 The key verse for Ezra's life is found in the 7th Chapter of his book, verse 10,  where it says, "For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel."  A person's willingness to know and practice God's Word will have a direct effect on how God uses his/her life.  The starting place for serving God is a personal commitment to serve Him today, even before knowing what that service will be.  Where are you in this equation?

Thursday, Last Supper (Maundy Thursday)

Luke 22

Verse 56b-57

Jane Jones 

Verse 56b-57:  This man was also with him.  And he denied him. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. 

THOUGHT

Have you ever taken a moment to stop and think if you were one of the twelve  disciples which one would you be like or which one would you immolate?  Would you be like Judas?  Dangerous greed got in the way and destroyed his  life.  Would you be like Peter?  He disowned Jesus three times in one day. Would you be like John?  He was quiet and supportive, but behind the scenes.  Possibly you could identify yourself with Mary, His mother, supportive  through His death on the cross. This reading stuck in my mind so deeply. Would I be like Peter?? What would I have said??? 

Back in April of 1999 Cassie Bernall, a junior at Columbine High School, in  Littleton, CO, was a typical teenager having a typical day. A lot like Peter was having. Then a classmate pointed a gun on her and asked if she believed in God....just like Peter.  She believed and professed it, she did not deny Him.  Michael W Smith wrote and dedicated a song in her honor and to her memory. Below are some of the words that reflect our thoughts today. At the time this happened, I was so captivated by the story. The following are some heart-written, soul-provoking words:

Song:  This Is Your Time (Words meaningful to our devotion)

This was her time, This was her dance, 

She lived every moment, Left nothing to chance. 

Swam in the sea, Drank of the deep, 

Embraced the mystery of all she could be.

This was her time. 

What if tomorrow, What if today, 

If faced with the question, what would you say? 

What would you say? 

This is your time, This is your dance, 

Live every moment, Leave nothing to chance. 

Swim in the sea, Drink of the deep, 

Embrace the mystery of all you can be.  

THIS IS YOUR TIME!!! 

 

PRAYER                                                                                                                                                      Father God, give us Faith and increase it daily so that we may be strong and courageous when given a challenging life-experience situation.   Keep us devoted to You daily.  May our eyes always be on YOU!  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN

Friday, Good Friday  (We have been forgiven through his crucifixion)

Luke 23 

Verses 41-43

Jane Jones

Verses 41-43:  "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."  

THOUGHT

When everything, and I mean everything, was totally devastating to Jesus hanging on the cross, one ray of hope came through the clouds. One man spoke up and recognized who Jesus was. Have you ever thought how that must have made Jesus feel?  It had to have made him feel good, if only for a moment. When a sheep was lost in the Old Testament, God would leave the 99 and go out and look for the one that was lost. Jesus saved one man that day for sure. He was a sinner, and the sinner was saved on his way to dying on the cross. 

We have to know that living a life of sin can still be rescued on the last day of that life if we open up our hearts to Jesus Christ and ask forgiveness. We do not make it to Heaven by our deeds, but by the grace of God. That is why we must never give up spreading the Word of God. We may speak to someone on their last day of life that saved them. Glory be to God for His good works. 

PRAYER

We thank You for weekends, Lord. We thank You that we have time to spend with our loved ones. We thank You for the time we have to renew our strength and catch-up on our sleep. We thank You for time to worship You and reflect on Your love and grace. Through Your grace, a prisoner was saved. May we help bring others Your way as we live here on earth. May You look down on us and smile at us for living lives that are pleasing to You. For the gift of life and today, we say thank You, and we love You.  AMEN