Help Wanted
Today’s Reading – Ezra 1 – 2 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – Romans 9 – 12; Psalms 126 – 130; Proverbs 27)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Ephesians 4:32
Read the “0527 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read a previous post from this morning’s passage – “A Fresh Start“
Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. (Ezra 1:2-3)
After Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem, God commanded Cyrus, king of Persia, to rebuild the Temple. Everyone did their part. Some helped with the actual rebuilding and others gave toward the project.
Today, we also need everyone to support the building of churches. Millions of Americans are in the greatest struggles of their lives. Financially we are facing rising unemployment, fears of a national recession – or even a depression. The dramatic stock market losses have taken huge amounts out of retirement accounts. This is our new way of life: The “Lean Times.”
“Lean times” also may apply to some other areas of life. Relationships can be hard times, grief can leave a person in emotional ruins, and disease can attack. Faith challenged. If you face “lean times,” you’ll need a good foundation Jesus Christ.
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” (Ephesians 2:20)
King Cyrus would not be impressed with our version of hard times. He would tell us, you can choose either defeat, or a victory. His was victory.
Let’s band together and continue the work so the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be heard around the world.
Posted in Thoughts from Ezra by admin with 2 comments.
They’ll always be something negative going on in our lives but there’s no excuse for not sharing the gospel. It doesn’t take much to leave a track somewheres or to tell someone how great God is. Amen.
Yes, we should never stop sharing the gospel. Life is too short and there are so many who still need Christ .