A L M A C I A S

SOME LESSONS FROM THE BOOK OF EZRA

We read in Ezra 7:10 one of the most beautiful descriptions of a true servant of God. The passage reads, "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." In the character of this great servant of the Lord, we find a description that should fit every person who has put on Christ in baptism. Let us look at this passage in detail and see what lessons we can find that can be of benefit in our own lives as servants of God.

First of all, we read that Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord. There are many who have prepared their hearts to seek many things in life but not the law of the Lord. There are so many things in life that seem so attractive and exciting that we feel we just need to have them. Some are attracted by one thing; others, by another. There is nothing wrong in wanting to improve our lives and our lifestyles, but seeking after all those things without seeking the law of the Lord seems to show where our heart is. We have so many passages of scripture that warn us over and over of the many temporal things that could deviate us from that which is most important. Not so for Ezra, who knew that the spiritual should always be the most important thing to seek. And so he sought the law of the Lord, to learn it, to know it, but even more than that to do it. In the book of James we read how sometimes we might be only hearers of the Word but not doers of it, deceiving our own selves.

There was another need that this great servant of the Lord saw in regard to the Word of God. That is, that it was not sufficient to know it and to do it, but that it was also necessary to teach it to others. What is the probability that a person will ever take the time to go to the scriptures and learn about the Gospel to obey it? How many actually take the time to visit the churches of Christ so that they may be taught of God? Very few will do this; therefore, it is necessary that we who know the Word of God make an effort to teach it to others ­ not only to teach it to those who are lost, but also to teach it to those who are still not grounded in the faith. Before we can do this, we need to do what Ezra did; we need to seek the law of the Lord and to know it like we know nothing else in our lives. Are you like Ezra?