Month: January 2015

Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel. Ezra 7:10 HCSB

I have committed my life to studying and teaching God’s Word and helping Sunday School teachers more effectively study and teach their class members each week. It is a humbling responsibility to teach God’s Word. James 3:1 says, “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment.” God expects more of those who are teachers.

Ezra was a student of God’s Word and desired to teach its statutes and ordinances to others so they also could know and follow God’s will. It is admirable that he studied, obeyed, and taught God’s Word. Whether we are a teacher or not, all believers should desire to do the same thing – to study, obey, and teach God’s Word. God desires to speak to all of His children through His Holy Word, the Bible.

Challenge: Determine in your heart that you are going to spend time reading God’ Word each day, studying it and hiding its precepts in your heart. God’s gracious hand will be upon you as you seek to do His will in your life. If you are not a teacher and feel that God has given you the spiritual gift of teaching, consider teaching a Sunday School class. You will receive a great blessing as you study and teach His Word each week.

He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month since the gracious hand of his God was on him. Ezra 7:9 HCSB

God has richly blessed me with a wonderful, loving, and supportive wife, four great children who love the Lord, two fantastic sons-in-law, a godly daughter-in-law, and two beautiful grandchildren. I have also been blessed to serve at mission-minded churches, the Missouri Baptist Convention, and Lifeway Christian Resources. There have been opportunities for me to teach Sunday School Leadership conferences in many states and to participate in mission trips around the world. God has been very good to me. It feels as though the gracious hand of God has been upon me.

God used Ezra to lead approximately 40,000 people cross country on foot to a new home. Just imagine the number of people including men, women, and children, not to mention the number of animals that accompanied them. Each day they traveled, prepared food, and set up tents for lodging at night. The gracious hand of God was upon him and protected the people as they traveled. Ezra and the Israelites made the trip safely to Jerusalem in only four months without any military escort.

Challenge: Pray for the gracious hand of God to be upon you. Ask for His blessings as you seek to serve Him and follow His perfect plan for your life.