THE HAND OF THE LORD!

by | Aug 11, 2015 | Ezra

Ezra 7:6

“This Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.” 

From time to time I speak with people who only read New Testament passages. It shocks me, but at the same time saddens me. There are so many times in the Old Testament where we see the hand of God at work in the lives of those who place their trust in Him. I truly believe that we cannot understand the New Testament without a foundational knowledge of the Old Testament.

The Ezra in today’s scripture was a scribe who had been in captivity in Babylon. He was faithful to the Lord regardless of where he was, but Ezra’s heart was always in Jerusalem. It was not because of his outstanding abilities that the king’s heart was swayed, but it was because “the hand of the Lord his God upon him.”

The people of God through all ages who have placed their trust in the Lord God have felt His hand upon their lives. That does not mean that their life is easy and without difficulty. As a matter of fact, sometimes the people of God are called upon to suffer more than others. So what is the benefit of placing our trust in God? The benefit is being used by Him.

If you really want your life to count for eternity, trust God with and for everything! Do not try to consider some things small and some things large. In God’s sight everything we do for Him is huge. The things of this world will pass away. Our efforts may seem insignificant, but if we act in obedience, it will please God and bring eternal value to us.

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!

– – – Pastor Cecil 

I DESERVE IT!

by | Aug 11, 2014 | Ezra

Ezra 9:13

What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this.

Many people go through life feeling as if they deserve to be treated in some special way. Are you one of those people? Do you feel as if you are not being given the proper respect or credit that you are entitled to?

Increasingly, we live in a world that seems to be driven by self-centeredness. People are more interested in what will benefit themselves than what they can do to benefit those around them.

As long as we live our lives as if we are entitled to more than we have, we will become more and more discontent. Discontentment will inevitably lead to despair and the lack of spiritual purpose.

The Lord knows our needs before we are even aware that we need them. It is not what we deserve, but what He determines that is important. When we truly are sold out to Jesus, our cry will not be to bless us because we deserve it, but rather the words He used in speaking to His Father: “Not My will, but Thy will be done!”  May that be our prayer moment by moment.

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!

– – – Pastor Cecil