Meditation on Ezra

I nv seems 2 b able 2 finish readin d old testament esp wit all d names n geneologies of who is whose son...always find d old testament a challengin thing.im only familiar wit genesis, jonah n esther.n half of exodus n bit of 1st samuel n 2nd samuel.n bit of psalms n proverbs..basically, i noe bit of here n there..but i reli feel lik changin it tis yr bcos s ppl said, there is no easy way out 2 noe God n d best way is obviously 2 read d bible. SO anyway, enuff said, 2day i read Ezra in 1 sittin while eatin roti murtabak n drink nescafe. A book tt i nv reli read n i dunno wat went on in it.

I found it so amazin n fascinatin s i read it. Ezra was a book of victory, but not d victory of mankind, but rather d victory of a glorious God tt use mankind s His instrument. It was wonderful 2 read bout how d temple of God was restored n most importantly d faith of God's children restored. It was great readin of d repentance of a whole nation tt renew their pledge 2 b obedient 2 God. Christ rejoiced over 1 lost child, wat more d whole congregation of Israel. Wat joy it muz hav been 2 God. We muz learn of how much it pains God wen we live in disobedience n how much God rejoiced wen we follow Him. We r so not worthy of tt trust n hope God given us, but all these r only possible bcos of our Lord Jesus Christ!

But it is important tt we noticed, without God's powerful hand of intervence, d rebuildin of God's temple was not possible. It is a precious reminder 2 us tt in our service 2 God, we can't go far if we r not relyin on God's protection frm d evil ones n God's power. It'll only b matter of time b4 we lose sight of our mission. Juz s Mary choose 2 sit at d feet of our Lord Jesus Christ n choose wat tt was important - 2 listen 2 our Lord, we shd do juz tt n b careful lest we fall in2 d trap of servin without worship. It's 1 of Satan's famous plan, tt's 2 keep us busy wit service, we lose our focus on Christ.

It amazed me tt God can use any1 2 move n do things d way He planned. God put forth in Isaiah a prophecy tt He will use Cyrus d king in His plan 200 yrs b4 Cyrus was born!God used d non believer kings in His plan 2 rebuild His temple. Look at d extend which d Gentile kings were willin 2 go in rebuildin d temple n u'll find tt there is no motivation 4 them 2 do so, except d fact tt God was behind it all. ( Ezra 1:2-8 n 6:3 - 12)

Alas, we muz rem, tt d devil is constantly prowling for victim. D more we stick close 2 God, d more d devil will try all his might 2 stop us. Ntg scares d devil more than a Christian walkin in d light of God. Wen God was restorin d temple 2 its splendor, enemies tried 2 stop it frm happened. But wat an assurance we hav, tt if it is d Lord's will, no matter wat we face, things will still work out in d end.

1 thing struck me oso. Wen i read till Ezra 9 n 10, i was reli caught by d focus tt d whole Israel hav in obedience 2 God. They grieved wen they found out tt they disobeyed d Lord by marryin those frm d other lands. Without tinkin, they knew it is d rite thing 2 do 2 put away all these wives n those who have been born 2 them (Ezra 10:3) I was bothered bcos bein a very nostalgic n a person tt put relationships of high priority, can i do d same if im in d Israelites shoe?i sumhow feel tt i can't. Im 2 emotionally weak 2 b so clear minded. I muz learn 2 fix my eyes on Lord Jesus Christ ( Hebrews 12:1-3) n follow Ezra's example in chapter 7 vs 10 : For Ezra has prepared his heart 2 seek d law of d Lord, n 2 do it, n 2 teach statutes n ordinances in Israel. We muz learn not 2 tolerate sin n grieved wen we fall. All these muz go beyond d emotional level of guilt, but instead shd lead 2 overflowin in worship of God's grace n action 2 stay away frm sin.

So much more can we learn frm His Word. May i glean n sift thru ur Word carefully n live my life accordin 2 Ur Word oh God..

Search me O God n know my heart,
Try me n noe my anxieties,
N c if there's a wicked way in me,
N lead me in d way everlastin.
Psalms 139: 23-24.