Today’s Reading Ezra 8-10
Focal Scripture: Ezra 9:4 “Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat devastated until the evening offering.”
When you realize you have sinned against God you have two choices. You can either ignore it happened or you can tremble before a holy God. In this section of scripture the Israelite men were marrying women who practiced detestable things. This was a problem because they did not worship the one true God but false Gods they created.
This false worship could pull the nation into idol worship. Because as the family goes so goes worship. This is why being in a relationship with someone who is a believer matters. Being on the same page spiritually has major implications for the present and the future. Ezra knew this was a problem and he responded correctly.
Ezra demonstrates to us how we as believers should handle sin in our lives. When we know we have done wrong we should be devastated by our sin and tremble at the word of the Lord. Ezra had an attitude of humiliation. He knew he had to correct the sin in his life.
The implications are many for us. When we sin or we witness sin are we broken? If we are not broken, why is that? Our response to individual sin and corporate sin reveals many things about us.
I am not saying we should wallow in self pity but we should take sin seriously. I challenge you today to see how God views sin. Then when you understand that see how it affects our relationship with him.
Let us all be like Ezra and tremble at the word of the Lord and be devastated over our sin.
Tomorrow I plan on reading Nehemiah 1-3
