Ezra 9:1-5 (English Standard Version)

Ezra 9

Ezra Prays About Intermarriage

 1After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, "The people of Israel and the priests and the^(A) Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands^(B) with their abominations, from the^(C) Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2^(D) For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the^(E) holy race^[a] has^(F) mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost." 3As soon as I heard this, I^(G) tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and^(H) sat appalled. 4Then all who^(I) trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat^(J) appalled until the evening sacrifice. 5And at the^(K) evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment^(L) and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees^(M) and spread out my hands to the LORD my God,

Ezra took sin seriously!  He was grieved for his nation.  He took extreme action and was completely undone for his nation.  At very best, my nation is just as bad as his.  Truefully its probably much worse.  How much do I care?  A whole lot of people waste a whole lot of energy pacing back and forth and wondering if we're going to make it through this economy, through this political landscape, etc.  That's completely the wrong thing to be consumed with!  I ought to be consumed, but not by that.  I ought to be grieved for my nation knowing that we stand on a precipice - perhaps like never before.  What does God have for me to do today?  I must get busy knowing I may not have more time.  

Romans 9:1-16 (English Standard Version)

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Romans 9

God’s Sovereign Choice

1^(A) I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For^(B) I could wish that I myself were^(C) accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,^[a] my kinsmen^(D) according to the flesh. 4They are^(E) Israelites, and to them belong^(F) the adoption,^(G) the glory,^(H) the covenants,^(I) the giving of the law,^(J) the worship, and^(K) the promises. 5To them belong^(L) the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ^(M) who is God over all,^(N) blessed forever. Amen.

6But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7and not all are children of Abraham^(O) because they are his offspring, but^(P) "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." 8This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but^(Q) the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9For this is what the promise said:^(R) "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son." 10And not only so, but^(S) also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of^(T) him who calls— 12she was told,^(U) "The older will serve the younger." 13As it is written,^(V) "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

14What shall we say then?^(W) Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15For he says to Moses,^(X) "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16So then it depends not on human will or exertion,^[b] but on God, who has mercy.

Both God's sovereignty and His justice ring true here. It's hard when you see difficult circumstances in life and you wonder what God is doing. This passage reminds me though that just as God is in control of our salvation, he's really in control of everything. Nothing will thwart his purposes. Nothing will stop him from doing what he has purposed to do. That brings great comfort. I can rest in that. I know my obligation is to live inside the bounds of God's Word and as long as I can do that, I can rest easy about everything else becuase I know its in God's control and I know I'm being obedient to his Word.

Romans 8:12-25 (English Standard Version)

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Heirs with Christ

12So then, brothers,^[a] we are debtors,^(A) not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you^(B) put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are^(C) led by the Spirit of God are^(D) sons^[b] of God. 15For^(E) you did not receive^(F) the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of^(G) adoption as sons, by whom we cry,^(H) "Abba! Father!" 16^(I) The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then^(J) heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,^(K) provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Future Glory

18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time^(L) are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for^(M) the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation^(N) was subjected to futility, not willingly, but^(O) because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that^(P) the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that^(Q) the whole creation^(R) has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have^(S) the firstfruits of the Spirit,^(T) groan inwardly as^(U) we wait eagerly for adoption as sons,^(V) the redemption of our bodies. 24For^(W) in this hope we were saved. Now^(X) hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we^(Y) wait for it with patience.



We are not given a spirit of slavery to fall back into our old sin, but a spirit of adoption. The point is, God has given me everything I need to break the power and chains of sin in my life. Since being adopted as his son, I no longer am a slave to sin. I have the power to make the choice to please God with my choices instead of myself. In the heat of the moment, this is often hard for me to remember, but I'm going to try and meditate on this truth today so that when I am tempted, I will remember to choose to please God.

Tuesday July 29, 2008

Romans 5:1-11 (English Standard Version)

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Romans 5

Peace with God Through Faith

1^(A) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,^(B) we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also^(C) obtained access by faith^[b] into this grace^(D) in which we stand, and^(E) we^[c] rejoice^[d] in hope of the glory of God. 3More than that, we^(F) rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering^(G) produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and^(H) hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love^(I) has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

6For^(J) while we were still weak, at the right time^(K) Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8but^(L) God shows his love for us in that^(M) while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Since, therefore,^(N) we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from^(O) the wrath of God. 10For if^(P) while we were enemies^(Q) we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by^(R) his life. 11More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received^(S) reconciliation.

Jesus Christ died for me while I was in the depths of sin knowing what I had done and what I would do and still chose to go to the cross for me. WHY? I'll never understand the incredible love Jesus has for me, but God, thank you. Thank you for loving me. On that cross you made history. You died, took my place and made it possible for me to have peace with almighty God. Thank you.