Monday morning thoughts...

"For on the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach his statutes and ordinances in Israel." Ezra 7:9-10

Yesterday we looked at the book of Ezra in our time together. It is the first of a two-part story of how the nation of Israel was released from captivity and allowed to go back to their home land. Ezra played a key role in the spritual life of Israel during this time. Six different times we read about the hand of the Lord being upon him or the people he was leading (7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31). As we see above, the reason for the Lord's hand being upon his life in a favorable way is because of Ezra's response to God's Word. He studied the Word. He lived the Word. He helped others understand the Word. I don't know of a better example for how we should approach the things that God has revealed to us in His Word.

What are you doing, as a parent, to help your student set their heart toward these things? As I gave the students the challenge to be like Ezra, I will give the same challenge to you. Are you setting your heart towards God's Word the way that Ezra did? When was the last time you sat down with your student and shared with them how God's Word has been impacting your life? Do they see how God's Word is impacting your life?

As we read on through the book Ezra we come across a situation where Ezra is broken over Israel's sin (9:1ff.) As he is crying out to the Lord a crowd gathered around and heard his prayer. They too broke over their sin and Ezra challenged them to confess and repent from their sin. The people responded in a right way. How powerful it is to see what God can do through one person who is faithful to His Word!