Ezra 9 - Marriage With Non-Believers

Intermarrying with those who are not people of God.  This was not a good thing! 

And... for those who have married and still marry those who are not of the same faith it is still a pretty tough thing.  I can't even begin to remember how many marriages I have attended or officiated at where one was at the time a Christian faithfully worshipping God and the other was not.  The marriages may endure, though there are so many more trials and tribulations for them to endure.  How many times I have heard of the sadness of the believer that their spouse cannot share their faith - the loneliness that is felt as they go off to worship on Sunday mornings - alone.  On rare occasion, the faith of the non or marginal believer (if there is such a thing) will grow thanks be to the witness of Jesus Christ through the believer.  But, more often, the one who was once faithful begins to follow in the ways of the world, in the ways of the spouse and they are no longer seen communing with the Body of Christ, either.

Because of the grace of God, all things are permissible, but not all beneficial.  It sure would make life easier if we would take into consideration the faith of our future partners in life when we make that commitment to love them until death parts us.  Our relationship with Jesus Christ is like a marriage.  When we choose to bind ourselves to things or people of this world that would draw us from him, that is adultery and it leads to idolatry. 

No matter which way we look at it - marrying an unbeliever has you treading on dangerous ground.

Ezra 8 - You Are Free!

Well, here's a puzzle this morning:  Who wrote the book of Ezra?  I realized as I was reading the chapter this morning that the author is now speaking in the first person rather than the third.  I have always assumed it was Ezra who wrote it, but if he wrote it, the transition from third to first person is kind of confusing to me.  I know that if this were being discussed in the Bible Study on Wednesday mornings, we'd have a great time trying to figure it out.  But, in the end, does it really matter?  It is a great story - history well worth reading.

As I read the first section of the chapter with the list of fathers and their children who left captivity together, I wondered how many Christian parents today desired that their children would be able to live without bondage to the false gods of this world and live freely in Christ. 

May God help all whom we love to understand, to see, that Christ freed them from sin, death, and the power of the devil, to live life in him and to live it abundantly. 

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."  Gal 5:1 NIV

Ezra 7 - Taxes and Tributes

Ezra is on the scene...

But, I think I really like this King Artaxerxes - no taxes or tributes are to be charged to any of the servants of the house of God!  Having just paid estimated income taxes in June, more due next month, and began paying property taxes this month, (It usually takes a couple of months to get them all completely paid) I can really appreciate this edict! 

Two things Americans have to be careful to budget for, as they are major parts of our expenses, are insurances and TAXES!  Between the various insurances and taxes that I pay, I am estimating that about 50% (maybe more) of my income disappears and believe me I am not in the upper class income tax range - definitely lower middle-class income.  So this morning, I am marveling at a leader like Artaxerxes. 

At the same time, I thank God that He abundantly supplies all my needs so that I am able to pay these taxes and tributes! 

Ezra 5, 6 - Confess

Hopefully, you all are actually reading the chapters as they come up each day!  There is so much in each one and I only hit on maybe one or two points that catch my attention.

And... that one thing for today is the fact that the people of God acknowledge that it was due to their own sin that they lost the temple and were sent into exile in the first place.

Such a novel idea... confessing one sins!  How many public confessions or admissions have you heard lately?  Actually, admitting or acknowledging that we have sinned and responsible for our own troubles is a very good step to recovery, to healing and wholeness.  It makes us take a good look at ourselves so that we can change things in our lives, so that our lives and the lives of the people around us can be live more fully in God's presence. 

Acknowleding that it was by their own sin that the trouble had come to them was what those ancient people of God did.  And... what happened?  King Darius gave them permission to continue rebuilding the temple.  He also promised that any of the adversaries that try to interfere with the rebuilding of the temple would be stopped and stopped quickly by hanging them from a gallows made from their own homes.

Rather than complain about the circumstances of our lives, may we always remember to confess our sins and turn to the LORD worshipping Him above all things. 

Ezra 4 - Adversaries

Whenever anyone tries to build something for the good of the people, it seems that there is always someone who is trying to stop growth.  A lot of times it is simply because of jealousy or personal greed or even the fear that someone will become stronger, more powerful than them, and not support them any longer. 

The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin tried and tried to stop the building of the temple and they finally succeeded thanks to their plying King Artaxerxes of Persia with the fear that he would lose power and authority over the released exiles.

It is troubling.  Instead of working together for the good of all people; we often find ourselves struggling to defend the work that we do.  A lot of time is wasted as we go forward and then find ourselves falling back as we take the time to answer and defend the reasons we were going forward in the first place. 

Adversaries surround us, trying to infiltrate, as did the adversaries in our lesson tried to infiltrate to sabotage the building of the temple.  In fact, in the whole visible church on earth, the adversary has infiltrated and we need to be on guard against those who would teach us to go in another way than we are directed by the Word.  That does not mean we have to throw them out, but rather we need to have patience and love as we teach them a better way; rather, than accept their false teachings.

I am mostly thinking of some of the so called "New Age" teachings that are so prevalent in the church today.  There are many things that are taught that absolutely are not what Christ taught, but so many refuse to read their Bibles, refuse to attend worship to hear the Word regularly, that people simply do not know the truth.  Unfortunately, the consequence of this has been to replace the one true God, with lesser gods.  And... the sad thing is that so many don't even realize they have done this. 

May God help us to stand fast in the truth and follow in the way He would have us go.  And... Please attend worship wherever you are this morning!  Hear His Word!

Ezra 3 - As One Man

 "...the people gathered together as one man (3:1);" and "...Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of Judah, arose as one to oversee those working on the house of God" (3:9)

Worship and sacrifice begins once again as the people return from exile.  Joined together, as one, they duly honor and give thanks to God for freeing them from bondage to another people.  They are so united it is as if they are "one man" - united in heart and mind.

And... with one heart and mind the priests rise up to lead the people in the remaking of the temple. 

It often seems that when we pass through a major crisis or a major event, participation in worship jumps up a bit.  Immediately following the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York City, the attendance in churches across the country surged.  People got together as one to worship God.  The surge did not last for too long, though.  Once everyone became a bit more confident that the "government" could protect us with additional security measures (whether it's true or not), attendance went back to normal.  Everyone went their own separate way.

Years ago, not many years after I began serving at Zion, we had a major building project.  The addition included an office, library, Sunday School rooms, and an elevator.  It was major for this small community.  It brought the people together as one.  They rose up as one to complete that project to the glory of God. I believe that during the time of the building project; because of the enthusiasm the project generated, our attendance at Worship rose higher, more quickly, than at any other time in many decades.  It was a great time for evangelism!  Thankfully, attendance has not fallen off since then.  The congregation has grown a bit since then, but, not in any way like it did at that time. 

It is a little sad that we need crisis or trials or major challenges in order for us to turn and worship the one true God as one people.  But, it seems that is the way it has always been.  It took being sent into captivity in order for them to gather as one and serve the LORD, our God.  May God send His reconciling Spirit that we might rise up as one to Worship and glorify Him. 

By the way... that is a work of God, not man.  All the good intentions of man will not convince the rest of humankind that we should, as one, love the LORD our God and our neighbor as ourselves.  Only the love of God through Christ Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can convince us.  It would be good though, if our stubborn hearts would not require exile in order for that to happen.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezra 2 - Exiles Return!

What a company returning from exile!  Can you imagine the impact on the cities they moved from and to? 

I was wondering about all those people today who mark the box Christian or one of the various denominations on the various forms that ask for religious affiation.  Are they in exile?  Will they return to worship the LORD?  Now, I know someone is thinking that they can worship without the community of saints. They can sit under a tree and pray or on the golf course and thank God for the green.  Yeah, right!  Well, I don't play golf.  And... as much as I love to sit under a tree and pray, you still need the community of saints.  There is a whole Body of Christ out there.  Get connected to it!  I have said it before (multitudes of times) and I will say it again: 
     "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom 10:17

Please don't tell me you are a Christian, if you never take the time to hear God's word or even read it!  How do we develop relationships with friends or family members?  Maybe, by getting to know them?  It's no different for our relationship with Jesus Christ.  We get to know Jesus by hearing  about Him by others who love Him.

For those who claim membership in a church body and haven't entered that worship center in years - return from exile!  Attend worship with the congregation you haven't worshipped with in decades.  For those who do not presently have a place to worship with other saints, find one.  And... for the rest of us, we need to get busy seeking them out and help them as Cyrus helped God's people to be released from captivity.  Bring the word of God to them if they will not come to you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezra 1 - Cyrus More Faithful Than Us?

We begin the book of Ezra pretty much where 2 Chronicles left off...

     "...the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
     This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:

     ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them.'"  (1:1-3 NIV)

What would possess this non-Jew who had power and authority over the people of God to release them from their captivity and bless them as he sends them on their way to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem?  Scripture tells us that the LORD moved his heart.  Just as He moved others to come up against His people so that they would learn and turn to Him, He also moves the hearts of others to show grace and mercy.

Cyrus was not of Abraham's or David's lineage.  He was not a part of the promise; yet, he attributes his position over all the kingdoms over the earth to the LORD, the God of heaven.  He attributes it to the one God.  That just amazes me. 

How many of us, who claim to be followers, who claim to believe, claim all that we are and have and do, to the one God, our LORD?  In a very real sense, I think, that Cryus was more faithful than many (most?) of Abraham's children, than of David's. 

It is election year.  This may be a reminder to us that the one who claims (or others point out to be) the most Christian may not necessarily be the one whom God would have lead us.  For countries or world governments, it is not always the one whom we perceive as "Christian" who listens to the LORD's will for His people - and we are all His people.

May God bless each of us with the knowledge, the realization, of how much He has given us and help us to use those gifts to do His will, glorifying His holy name.

2 Chronicles 36 - Last Chapter - Into Exile

Some peoples never learn.  Hard-hearted, after running through their last hard-hearted kings, the Israelites are given into to the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, by God, exiled to Babylon for 70 years.   One would thing the people would learn, but, no.  They ran through kings like water runs in a waterfall; yet, they would not repent.  They would not turn back to the LORD.  They lose their temple.  They lose their home.  They lose their freedom.  Into captivity they go. 

In the end, it is only by the softening of the Persian's king's heart, by God, that the people are allowed to return to rebuild the temple. 

Sometimes, it seems, we can be so hard-hearted toward the LORD, that it takes a non-believer, with a heart softened by God, to steer us back on course.  I have (and I'm sure if you think about it, you probably have, too) often been turned around by someone who worships others gods or as some would say they worship no gods.  For whatever reason or however He does it, God can use anyone to soften our hearts toward Him; to bring us back to Worship; to renew our faith.  The Holy Spirit is not limited to just work on and through Christians.  The Holy Spirit can do whatever the Holy Spirit wants.  He is God and God works in ways we can even begin to fathom.   

Well, I am back from vacation and heading to the church very soon for Bible study.  May God soften the hearts of all people (especially those who say they are Christian) so that they would study and hear His word more faithfully.