A Right Way For Us – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Reading – Ezra 8 – 10 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – 1 Corinthians 1 – 4; Psalm 136 – 140; Proverbs 29)

Read the “0529 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.” (Ezra 8:21)

Good morning. Do you know what you’re doing? Do you think you know what you’re doing? Do you know what you are supposed to do? Are you doing what God wants you to do? Verse 21 tells us that Ezra and the people fasted to get a hold of God. Where do you begin to rebuild a city? What is God’s perfect will in the matter? Ezra had told the king something he knew about God…

“For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.” (Ezra 8:22)

What kind of stand do you take on God? What kind of faith do you have in Him? Is your God powerful enough to protect you? Do you have faith in Him?

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

They had to afflict their flesh by fasting and diligently seeking Him. They prayed and asked the LORD for protection and wisdom in the way they should go.

1) The right way for us begins with prayer and asking God for help and direction.

“Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.” (Ezra 9:1-4)

2) The right way for us is to humble ourselves and confess our sins.

In this case it was the abominations they did in marrying strange wives: their wives influenced them in committing their abominations.

“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. 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.” (Ezra 9:6-7)

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2Corinthians 6:16-18)

3) The right way for us is to make things right with God.

“Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.” (Ezra 10:1-2)

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Chronicles 7:14)

The only way back to God is on His terms. And He is waiting as the loving father with the prodigal son to receive him back. Will you come back?

Peace.


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Gary
Gary
2 years ago

Amen

Sherry Lingelbach
Sherry Lingelbach
2 years ago

I am so glad that God makes it very clear that when we forsake him there is a way back. And, although it is on his terms, it is not laborious. We turn back and agree with him and he makes a way of escape and restores us. There is always hope. Praying for some love ones for this very thing.

Bob Fenton
Bob Fenton
2 years ago

Amen Pastor Ted.May the Lord be before me
And the world behind me.Thanks for the post.

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