- Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. Ezra 4:4-5 – This shows they truly didn’t follow the same God. Fellow followers of God wouldn’t behave like this…at least they better not. If we are fine with causing discouragement in the lives of others, especially our family in Christ, we are not following Jesus. If we are fine creating fear in the lives of others, especially our family in Christ, we are not following Jesus. Sadly though we hear too often that Christians not only behave this way with each other, but to those outside the church searching for a Savior. Let this not be so of you. If as a result of you interacting with someone you added to their shame, worry, anxiety, anger, fear, or discouragement, then you weren’t following Jesus there. This devotion today may be a sharp rebuke to some, but this needs to be said if we want to make sure we aren’t hurting each other and pushing people away from coming to meet Jesus. I love you, Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1276
- Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. Ezra 4:24 – Opposition came, letters were sent, words were said, a king made a decree, and the work of rebuilding the temple stopped. Stopped for close to two years. What a frustrating season for the Jews, to have been given the rights to go home and rebuild, all to have their efforts stopped because of some sinful people’s words. One commentary I read shared a point that I hadn’t thought of, while the rebuilding had to cease, they still had in front of them what they restored so far. Mainly they still had the altar. This would have been their way of sacrifice to the Lord and it would have been connected with so many aspects of worship of the Lord. Yes, the rebuild was put on hold, but worship wasn’t. Yet for us when opposition arises, and plans get frustrated, and we get put in a hold season, does our worship of God get put on hold too? It can be so tempting to allow the persecution and the hold-ups in life to interfere with our worship of the Lord, but let’s remember what we have always in front of us. We always have Jesus with us. He will never leave, nor forsake us. More than likely as well, even in hold seasons, we’ll still be able to pray, read scripture, gather with other believers, worship with song, serve, and even still share the gospel. Yes, maybe work and home and relationships and so many other aspects of life aren’t going well currently, but our worship of Jesus doesn’t have to be put on hold as a result. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2497
Daily DEVO 