Monday, March 29, 2021

Ezra 10 Devotional Throughts by Stephen Taylor

Ezra 10:1

“While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites--men, women and children--gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.”

This is such a bold and humble example of true repentance, and I absolutely love it! When confronted with his sins and the sins of his people, Ezra goes straight to the Lord. He humbly confesses and repents in both word and deed! He doesn’t just say, “I’m sorry” and keep going about his business but throws himself down on the ground crying out to God! He didn’t care who was around or what they thought; he knew he was wrong and that God was right, and if it cost him his status, position, or power, so be it!

This one man’s act of repentance rubbed off on those around him! Conviction is contagious to those around you who are stuck in the same sin! Sometimes, it just takes that one person to lead others down the same path! Will you say, “Enough is enough. Forgive me, Lord” and throw yourself down at His feet?

This whole thing was brought about by the Israelites intermarrying with the people around them whom the Lord commanded them not to marry. So, I find it interesting that even the children were weeping, because I doubt they had married anyone at this point; they are still referred to as children. But then the Holy Spirit brought some light to it. I don’t think these children were weeping because they sinned in this way but because those closest to them had broken the Lord’s commands, and that broke their hearts! Does our heart break when we or those we love break the Lord’s commands? 


To me, this verse is a perfect example of how we come to Christ. Our sin is revealed to us along with our need for the Savior, so then we pray, humbly confessing our sins and repenting in word and deed. Then Jesus swoops in and redeems, restores, and reconciles us to the Father! Our repentance at the foot of the cross can lead those around us to the same place and the same Jesus who gave all He had for me and you!

2 Corinthians 7:10: Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

He saved you a seat at His table. The question is: Will you attend His feast?? I love you all. God bless and Glory to God Almighty, the Lion of Judah, and my Counselor the Holy Spirit!

 

Ezra 10:4

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

 

This morning in my prayer time, I kept hearing “rise up.” It’s time to rise up! The time for crippled Christianity and going with the flow is over. It’s time, my brothers and sisters, that we rise up and admit our sins and turn back to the Lord.

 

This verse comes from a time when the Israelites had to make a tough choice about their past decisions, and they chose the Lord over what the world around them was telling them to do. They chose to turn back to the Lord and not take the easy way out. I feel like we are at this same crossroads, and soon, we will find out who truly is a disciple of Christ and who just plays the part. In 2 Peter 3:9, it says that the Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish, but that statement says it all to me. It says that some will perish, and it’s not because God hasn’t tried or that He didn’t send His Son for our sins, but that we are prideful, arrogant, and refuse to admit we are wrong and turn to Him.

 

I urge you today that if you even doubt for a second your standing with Christ, then get on your knees, confess (pour your heart out to the Lord), accept (His way, not your way), and believe (know that the Lord speaks only Truth and that He says you are His and you are forgiven)! We have to know who Jesus is, but more importantly than that, He has to know us! I say this out of love and am speaking to myself as much as anyone!

 

Matthew 7:21 - “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven.”

 

These are Jesus’ words, not mine, and they are a warning to us as believers that we need to take to heart and share with those around us! Be found in the Lord or be lost forever!!

 

Be a servant, Be kind, Be humble, and more than anything else, Be His!

 

I love you all. God bless and all Praise, Glory, and Honor to our Papa, His Son, and our Comforter!!!!

 

 

 

 

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