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- Apr 25, 2006
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COMFORT/COURAGE (2)
'Rise up; this matter is in your hands ... take courage and do it' Ezra 10:4
Ezra was a priest who took courage and took charge by leading the people of Judea and Jerusalem out of their sin before God. They had broken God's commandments and as a people were full of guilt and shame. Ezra didn't have a clue what to do at first, so he got vulnerable with God: 'Ezra wept, prostrate in front of The Temple of God ... he prayed and confessed' (Ezra 10:1 TM).
We can take a lot from this reaction! In a whirlpool of disobedience that Ezra couldn't see a way out of, he flung himself to the mercy of God in front of His people. Sometimes when we make mistakes, our first reaction can be that we don't want to go anywhere near God or church.
We know we are going before a holy God, in His holy house and we feel like we're dressed in dirty clothes, reeking of sin. Ezra got it right by flinging himself before the King. He didn't stop there, though. Ezra then got up and took action against sin by instructing the people how to start living right. Have the courage to fling yourself to the mercy of God, then get on the offensive against sin by living out God's best for you.
What now? What do you need to say sorry for? Write a letter apologising to God. THEN read Romans 8 verses 1-2, and verses 28-39. Throw away or burn your letter, knowing then that God's forgiven you.
written by Bob Gass
'Rise up; this matter is in your hands ... take courage and do it' Ezra 10:4
Ezra was a priest who took courage and took charge by leading the people of Judea and Jerusalem out of their sin before God. They had broken God's commandments and as a people were full of guilt and shame. Ezra didn't have a clue what to do at first, so he got vulnerable with God: 'Ezra wept, prostrate in front of The Temple of God ... he prayed and confessed' (Ezra 10:1 TM).
We can take a lot from this reaction! In a whirlpool of disobedience that Ezra couldn't see a way out of, he flung himself to the mercy of God in front of His people. Sometimes when we make mistakes, our first reaction can be that we don't want to go anywhere near God or church.
We know we are going before a holy God, in His holy house and we feel like we're dressed in dirty clothes, reeking of sin. Ezra got it right by flinging himself before the King. He didn't stop there, though. Ezra then got up and took action against sin by instructing the people how to start living right. Have the courage to fling yourself to the mercy of God, then get on the offensive against sin by living out God's best for you.
What now? What do you need to say sorry for? Write a letter apologising to God. THEN read Romans 8 verses 1-2, and verses 28-39. Throw away or burn your letter, knowing then that God's forgiven you.
written by Bob Gass
