- Ezra 3:1-5:17
- Psalm 96:13-97:6
- Proverbs 20:7-9
- Acts 27:21-44
Ezra 3 - 5
Ezra is a story of grit determination. The men and women of the time were determined to rebuild the temple of the Lord for His glory. They were faced with serious opposition against the good work to which they were called. Their neighbors were jealous of the progress they were making. They even went so far as to take names and tattle to the king. Eventually the Israelites were forced to pause their progress.
Even though they were delayed in their work toward completing the task God had given them, they never lost sight of what it was that God had called them to do. They got back to it just as soon as they saw an opportunity. Of course, the tattle-tells (or is it tattle-tales or even tattle-tails?) were right their to discourage them.
Doesn't it seem that anytime we want to do a good work for the Glory of God we are faced with all sorts of discouragement? I have a good friend of mine named David who is experiencing some of that. His discouragement comes more from a lack of enthusiastic cooperation among other ministers and not so much from deliberate sabotage of his efforts. But the discouragement is just as real and could be just as effective, if he let it.
No matter what discouragement you are facing today, let me encourage you with this, if the Devil didn't care if you did it or not, he wouldn't try to discourage you from it. Armed with that perspective, get out your water pistol and charge the gates of Hell!
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