Ezra 1:1-2:70 ~ 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 ~ Psalm 27:7-14 ~ Proverbs 20:22-23
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Old Testament - Today we begin the book of the priest & scribe Ezra!
Author: Ezra
Date: Fifth century B.C.
Content: The book of Ezra deals with the return of the Israelites to the land of Palestine after their captivity in Babylon. After describing first the return and how the work on the Temple was begun, the author tells us the problems that arose. After a great deal of trouble and early failure, the Temple was finally finished and rededicated to the glory of God. The ministry of Ezra is described in some detail, stressing the intercession that he made to God for the wayward people of the restored community.
Theme: When the people of Israel returned home they saw this as the fulfillment of the promise of God. God had said he would never abandon his people, and although they were judged for their sin, God never stopped loving them. That God should care for the world to this degree is the deepest of mysteries. God desires our worship in return for his love, however. This may be seen in that he sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to speed the rebuilding of the Temple after the people, in discouragement, had ceased to work upon it. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 8) More commentary on Ezra is at this link: http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=900
New Testament - Today in First Corinthians 1 verse 18 we read – “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” What does this verse say to you? Does it speak to you in any way? What is the message of the cross? What does the message of the cross mean to you personally? Is it foolishness? Or, is it the power of God? I don’t know what it is about this verse, but it really is so powerful for me. I think that it brings the Gospel message back to the central point in time in history – Jesus on the cross. And what Jesus did on the cross changed everything. Jesus changed history. The power of the cross is such that Jesus continues to change things this very moment. He is changing you. He is changing me. To us who are being saved, is the message of the cross literally the power of God? Do you meditate upon the cross regularly and meditate upon what the message of the cross truly is? Are you sharing the message of the cross with others in your life?
Below are two wonderful images for verses 27 and 30 & 31 courtesty of hearlight.org (link on the menu to the left):
Psalms - I love verse 11 today - "Teach me how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the path of honesty." Teach me how to live... what a beautiful prayer! God - Teach us how to live! Lead us along the path of honesty! Teach us how to live... And Psalm 27 verse 14 today is wonderful for us to meditate upon: "Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD." Is there an area of your life where you feel like you are waiting for the Lord to show up? Do you believe that the Lord will show up? I pray that this Psalm will encourage within you the virtue of patience. The Lord will show up. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Proverbs - Proverbs 20 verse 22 today teaches us: "Don’t say, "I will get even for this wrong." Wait for the Lord to handle the matter." This is a great reminder that Justice is not for us to carry out. Justice is the Lord's!
Worship God: Today's readings in First Corinthians 1:18 reminds me of the Chris and Conrad song, "Lead Me to the Cross:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zuwm5H8-Kw
Do you know the message of the Cross? Click here for the Message!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that the message of the cross is the power of God in your life through your saving faith in Jesus Christ. Pray for those in your family, your friends, and others you know who feel that the message of the cross is foolishness. Pray that they won't eternally perish.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
Ezra 1:1-2:70
THE KING'S heart is in the hand of the Lord, as are the watercourses; He turns it whichever way He wills. (Proverbs 21:1 AMP)
There is no other explanation for this seemingly coincidental event. Even with the world warring, nation against nation, peoples against peoples, God is Sovereign no matter what man thinks.
These are those who came from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer. They weren't able to prove their ancestry, whether they were true Israelites or not: Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, 652 in all. Likewise with these priestly families: Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai, who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and took that name. They had thoroughly searched for their family records but couldn't find them. And so they were barred from priestly work as ritually unclean.
(Ezra 2:59-62 MSG)
If the Old Testament was written as examples for us to follow, and in regard to error, not follow, then we should be showing due diligence in picking leaders, and a leader is really anyone who is seen by the congregation, from the volunteers who clean the bathrooms to the ushers and if big enough, the people who facilitate parking.
I Corinthians 1:18-2:5
The wisdom the word calls wisdom is nothing but folly and foolishness. Outside of the Mind of God, apart from the salvation of Jesus Christ, there is no wisdom. It is a powerful thing when believers filter the education they have received in school through the lens of the gospel.
Psalm 27:7-14
You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word]. (Psa 27:8 AMP)
The above verse excites me. God wants to be in vital union with me, he wants to carry on a conversation with me. This is so exciting because I know that the creator of the universe has time and wants to spend time with me so that we can have sweet fellowship in our relationship as Father-daughter, as Master-servant, and as Redeemer-and the-one-delivered.
I have not spoken in secret, in a corner of the land of darkness; I did not call the descendants of Jacob [to a fruitless service], saying, Seek Me for nothing [but I promised them a just reward]. I, the Lord, speak righteousness (the truth--trustworthy, straightforward correspondence between deeds and words); I declare things that are right. [John 18:20.] (Isa 45:19 AMP)
Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Heb 11:6 NET.)
Proverbs 20:20-23
One of the problems with seeking our own vengeance is that it ties us to the sin and the person who committed the sin against us. Focusing on a wrong, plants our feet deep into the soil of bitterness and grudges and we become immovable, failing to take hold of what God has for us. Freedom means letting go of past hurts and moving on. Besides, God can “pay back” the person in such a way that you can never ever think dream up in your wildest imagination.
My example:
I entered college when I was thirty-five as a single never married black parent of two, and on welfare. I had just begun to explore the scriptures and who God was to me three years before the incident I am about to describe. I don’t believe at the time I could truly say I was a Christian. In doing the paperwork to transfer my credits from a two-year school to a four year school, I found myself in a small elevator heading toward the Financial Aid Office when the elevator stopped and two professors deep in conversation get in. They had come from a pre-semester faculty meeting I guessed because they were lamenting the school accepting more “minority” students and how it would lower the standards.
Because they were deep in conversation, they didn’t see me or acknowledge my presence until with horror I said excuse me to exit the elevator when I got to my floor. I saw the anguish on their faces and said, “Oops, too late,” and walked off. There was a battle going on within me to a) report them, b) curse them out or c) ignore them. I chose “c.”
Fast forward, thee years latter and two months before my graduation with honors and 5 awards, I was leaving the school when I stopped to chat with security. Also speaking with security was a man truly distressed. He was scheduled to teach a required Freshman Math Class and the department had changed the book. His yellowed notes for the text they had always used were now unless. I asked him if could I look at the first chapter and saw it was all about “Sets.” I said, “O, this is easy,” and immediately proceeded to give this man in distress some pointers on how he might teach the class, said good-by and left the building. As I walked down the street, the memory of the elevator incident flashed before me and I laughed. The professor who had voiced the complaint about minorities had just received a math lesson from that which he feared, a minority. I hadn’t remembered the incident nor carried it with bitterness through my years of study there. I had absolutely forgotten the elevator encounter, until God brought it back to me.
Today it stands as a reminder to me about my own propensity to pre-judge.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | August 04, 2012 at 11:15 PM