SCRIPTURE
“The Word of the Lord.” Ezra 1:1
“What is written in the law of Moses.” Ezra 3:2,4
“According to the command of God.” Ezra 6:14
“What is written in the Book of Moses.” Ezra 6:18
“The law of your God.” Ezra 7:14
“The Words of the God of Israel.” Ezra 9:4
“The commands from our God.” Ezra 10:3
SPOTLIGHT
What God says to you is far more important than what family, friends, or society say to you! God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Simply put, He is all powerful, all knowing and everywhere. What human beings do you know who can provide those credentials before they tell you something? However, if truth be told, you may allow people to influence you more than God.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD IT BEFORE BUT IT’S WORTH SAYING AGAIN. It is absolutely necessary that you learn from God and the only way that will happen is when you listen to God. Do you spend time with God every day, by reading His Word and talking to Him in prayer? You will notice that the above SCRIPTURE section consists of 7 phrases. In the book of Ezra, the key phrase is, “the Word of the Lord” or, phrases that are similar. One of the main messages of this book is that the Word of God is to play a central role in every aspect of living. How to do life is to be learned from God, by listening to God. The way you listen is to read God’s Word.
Ezra is the key player in the book. He was a great example of inviting God to direct his life. Ezra 7:6 states, “…He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Moses had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.” This man just didn’t read God’s Word, but studied it. Paul the Apostle encouraged all believers to do that in, 2 Timothy 2:15. Ezra 7:10 sheds further light by saying “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” Not only did he seek to know God and His ways, but he also taught them to people. Ezra was totally convinced that God’s wisdom and ways were the best to live by. The book of Ezra describes a reawakening of people to read and obey God’s Word. Robert Lee put it this way; “The revival under Ezra was a revival of Bible study and obedience to the revealed will of God. The fruits of that movement are with us today, though nearly 2500 years have passed since then.”
Are you a growing Christian? Are you really sure that you are developing a balanced Christian life? Are you being honest when you say you are obedient to God? Are you absolutely positive that your love for Jesus Christ is greater than it was last year? Those are tough questions. They emphasize the importance of a person being fully persuaded about learning from God, by listening to God. To allow the Word of God to change you will require diligence. You will have to read it on your knees so that you just don’t put in time without experiencing the reward.
Someone said, “… the more conspicuous I make the Scriptures in my life, the harder it is to behave badly…Never forget, as you pray, that what God says to you is 1,000 times more important than what you say to Him.” Every day you need an appointment with God. You must learn to keep it. Get into a routine. Discipline yourself. Write it in your appointment book. Post it on the refrigerator. Tape your appointment to the bathroom mirror. Put a reminder in your cell phone. Learn to listen to the voice of God and not the voices of this world. In an uncertain world, the things that you know for sure can only come from God.
SOMETHING TO DO
How do the following Bible verses underscore the importance of learning from God, and listening to God?
Joshua 1:8………………………………….
1 Samuel 3:9,10……………………………
Psalm 119:15,16……………………………
Romans 15:4……………………………….
Hebrews 4:12………………………………
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. Teach me Your wisdom and ways. I want to be a learner. Today, I commit myself afresh to listening to You. Most of all, empower me to live out Your wisdom and ways. Then show me how to communicate Your truth to others, in the way I walk and talk. AMEN!