Just a thought… 30 Nov

It’s all too easy to glance at both people and situations and quickly draw vague conclusions. Most of the time outcomes seem to be obvious and even if our assumptions and conclusions are wrong, it doesn’t make a lot of difference.

When it comes to God’s Word however, the details are important. All scripture is ‘God breathed’ and He doesn’t waste His breath, the information is always there for a purpose! Last Sunday morning we moved from the ‘big-picture’ of Ezra Ch 7 and we ‘zoomed-in’ in Ch 8 to see the detail of Ezra’s situation and share an understanding of the struggles, challenges and triumphs. What’s striking is the detail of how this man who was soaked in God’s Word humbly responded to each situation.

Very sadly the novelty of serving the LORD seemed to have worn-off for many of His people. Ezra’s calling was to minister to disillusioned people for whom the ‘new’ had become the ‘norm’. He recognised the need for God’s people to work together in their service. He wasn’t afraid to call people to sacrificial service and he humbly led those with him to earnestly pray.

The result wasn’t that revival happened nor that all the challenges were solved – but in the end the LORD was honoured and the Gospel modelled as the LORD was Worshipped in the way He’s prescribed.

Yet maybe the most striking response was a humble recognition that they needed the LORD’s help as they served Him: 

The repeated refrain

“…because the gracious hand of our God was on us…” (vs18, 22,31)

summarises Ezra’s view of their achievements.

As we press forwards in the coming months let’s humbly acknowledge our same need and respond as Ezra did that the LORD would get the glory.

Spencer Shaw