Ezra 7:10 I was reading in the book of Ezra in the seventh chapter and the tenth verse just jumped out to me. Verse 6 shares who Ezra was by saying, “This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him.” The amazing part of this chapter is that we see the reason why Ezra had the hand of God on him. Verse 10 says, “This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Laws of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.” He didn’t only study he wanted to obey, he made a choice to choose God. After we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior do we become determined to study and obey? Or do we think it’s done and we are all good?
The hand of God was on him and it can be on us in the form of the Holy Spirit. When we want to learn and obey we can feel the Holy Spirit and our hearts will change and transformation will take place. This heart change is important as we learn and seek our new life in Christ. We are called to repent and turn to God, when we decide to do this and surrender our will to God’s we start to understand how important our obeying what the word says is.
Jesus tells us in John chapter 14 verse 15, “If you love me, obey my commandments.” When we choose Christ and are baptized we are new creations and our lives should be living for glorifying God and living like Christ. We can’t do anything to earn salvation, Jesus already died and shed his blood for us we just need to accept it and know that we no longer live but Christ is living in us. I love what it says in Joel chapter 2 verses 12-13, “That is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.’ Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.”
Are we “determined to study and obey” or are we just going through the motions? We are promised peace of mind and heart not perfection in this world. Our perfection comes with our new life when we die and join Jesus in heaven. Let’s not just say we are Christians let’s be determined to live it out and make a difference. Amen
The hand of God was on him and it can be on us in the form of the Holy Spirit. When we want to learn and obey we can feel the Holy Spirit and our hearts will change and transformation will take place. This heart change is important as we learn and seek our new life in Christ. We are called to repent and turn to God, when we decide to do this and surrender our will to God’s we start to understand how important our obeying what the word says is.
Jesus tells us in John chapter 14 verse 15, “If you love me, obey my commandments.” When we choose Christ and are baptized we are new creations and our lives should be living for glorifying God and living like Christ. We can’t do anything to earn salvation, Jesus already died and shed his blood for us we just need to accept it and know that we no longer live but Christ is living in us. I love what it says in Joel chapter 2 verses 12-13, “That is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.’ Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.”
Are we “determined to study and obey” or are we just going through the motions? We are promised peace of mind and heart not perfection in this world. Our perfection comes with our new life when we die and join Jesus in heaven. Let’s not just say we are Christians let’s be determined to live it out and make a difference. Amen
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