Ezra 3
Ezra 3
One of the most amazing things about being a follower of Jesus is that we are invited into a grand mission. God allows us to participate with Him in reaching the world, expanding His glory, and honoring His name. This is an honor we did not earn or deserve but was given. And it is a HIGH CALLING.
As I read Ezra 3, I am reminded of this. As they leave Babylon and head to the promised land God invites them into something great… the rebuilding of the temple.
The temple is where God dwelt in a special way in the Old Testament. God ordained it. It was special. They worshiped day after day. God was present among them. But this is what the text says in verse 6…
“But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.”
They could have just continued on - “someone else will build it”... but that is not what they did. They JOINED God in this work. Verse 7 says…
7 So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
I believe they gave of their own money, time, resources, and lives because they knew how special it was that they were invited into this moment. God invites us into similar moments…
We simply have to be obedient to what God has invited us into. He has not invited us into His mission because He needs us, as though somehow He is dependent upon us. But He has invited us into His mission because it is a PRIVILEGE for us to be on Jesus’ team.
List 3 ways God has invited you into His mission in your life. Do you see it as a “have to” or a “get to”? How can you join God where He is at work this week?
What a privilege we have to continue to lay the foundation of the gospel in people’s lives (Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 3:5-11)!
By: Nick Parsons
One of the most amazing things about being a follower of Jesus is that we are invited into a grand mission. God allows us to participate with Him in reaching the world, expanding His glory, and honoring His name. This is an honor we did not earn or deserve but was given. And it is a HIGH CALLING.
As I read Ezra 3, I am reminded of this. As they leave Babylon and head to the promised land God invites them into something great… the rebuilding of the temple.
The temple is where God dwelt in a special way in the Old Testament. God ordained it. It was special. They worshiped day after day. God was present among them. But this is what the text says in verse 6…
“But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.”
They could have just continued on - “someone else will build it”... but that is not what they did. They JOINED God in this work. Verse 7 says…
7 So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
I believe they gave of their own money, time, resources, and lives because they knew how special it was that they were invited into this moment. God invites us into similar moments…
- To make disciples.
- To be His witnesses.
- To serve His church.
- And so much more.
We simply have to be obedient to what God has invited us into. He has not invited us into His mission because He needs us, as though somehow He is dependent upon us. But He has invited us into His mission because it is a PRIVILEGE for us to be on Jesus’ team.
List 3 ways God has invited you into His mission in your life. Do you see it as a “have to” or a “get to”? How can you join God where He is at work this week?
What a privilege we have to continue to lay the foundation of the gospel in people’s lives (Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 3:5-11)!
By: Nick Parsons
No Comments