- For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem. Ezra 9:9 – They recognized two things here. That they were slaves and that God extended His great love to them in their slavery to save them. This is something we all need to recognize at some point in our story too. We are/were slaves to sin and it has/had its complete way with us. Yet in our slavery to sin God reached out His steadfast love to grant us freedom from it and save us. Today if you have seen that loving hand in your life and felt the freedom from sin God has given you, let’s make sure today we are setting aside the holds of sin that we keep holding onto like we read about in our passage. And if you haven’t yet accepted this freedom God has for you, know I’d love to share with you all about it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1281
- And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this,14 shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? Ezra 9:13-14 – Ezra had a solid perspective on their current situation. Everything that had happened up to this point (the exile, persecution, and destruction of Jerusalem) all took place as a result of the Jew’s sinful actions. Yet looking at the rebuilt temple and the Jewish people back in Jerusalem living well, Ezra acknowledges they have been punished far less than they deserve. Now how will they respond to such grace? Continuing in their sinful behavior or making a change to live holy for the Lord? We too must see the similarities in our story. We have been given far less than what we deserve for our sinfulness. Even despite our sin, God has established a way for us to have eternal life with Him. How though will we respond to such grace? Will we acknowledge it, take it for granted, and continue to live sinfully, or will we make a change? A change that includes laying down our sin at Jesus’ feet and following His word instead of our fleshly desires. As you then study scripture and come across passages that reveal an unholy way you are living, make the choice then and there to demonstrate your gratitude for God’s grace by turning that sin over to Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2502
Daily DEVO 