Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
Ezra 9-10
Ezra 9:5-9
5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,
6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
It is important for us to realize that God hates sin and is “angry with the wicked every day.” Ezra demonstrates the proper attitude and response toward sin in our lives. The Bible clearly teaches us that grace is only available to the humble and we all need grace. “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6) Ezra tells the Lord, “I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God…” (vs. 6) Ezra was living the reality that God allows the government to spank His children when they are living in sin. It is possible that America is at the same place today that Israel was then. Will God spank His children in America this November? Will Christians wake up and humble ourselves in repentance? We cannot speak for the rest of the Christians, but we can act for ourselves. Is there something you need to change? There is a space of grace available to those who humble themselves. May we learn from Ezra and have the right view of God and walk humbly before our God.
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to hate sin the way you do.
- Lord, please help me to love mercy the way you do.
- Lord, please help me to walk humbly before you.
Political
- Representative Jim Ellison
- Representative Diana Farrington
- Representative Graham Filler