Daily Bible Study
@just4him (306724)
Green Bay, Wisconsin
January 18, 2016 8:47am CST
JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE
EZRA
Day 1 – Opportunity
Ezra 1
When something comes along you’ve been waiting for, for a long time, you jump at the chance to participate. You don’t even hesitate. You make certain your name is at the top of the list, or at least somewhere on the sign up sheet. You are not going to be left behind.
Cyrus, king of Persia, offered the Jews just such an opportunity. They had been in exile for seventy years.
Jeremiah 25:12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, says the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.
It was time to go home and Cyrus offered to send anyone who wanted to go the opportunity to go with the intent they were to build the temple in Jerusalem once again. Not only was Cyrus offering to send the people home, but he was giving them all the vessels belonging to the temple of the Lord.
As Christians we also wait for the day when we will go home. This life we live on earth is only temporary. Our home is in heaven with our Father and Jesus our Savior. For now the Holy Spirit lives with us, helping us on our journey through life, but the day is coming when the curtain will be parted from this life and we will step into eternity where we will live the life God ordained for us from the beginning.
Have you signed up for the opportunity to go home? Have you accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, so that when the trumpet sounds, or your life on this earth comes to an end, you will be ready to go home?
The Jews longed to see their homeland once again and rose to the opportunity to go home and rebuild the temple.
As children of God we are God’s temple, and He resides in us, but there is coming a day when we will stand in the presence of God and we will see God’s holy temple in heaven. What a glorious day that will be. Are you ready?
Let’s pray: Father, I look forward to the day when You give me the okay to come home. Help me be ready when the moment arrives. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
Copyright © 18 January 2016 by Valerie Jean Routhieaux
All scripture is King James Version, edited by me into common English.
Image courtesy of pixabay
5 people like this
4 responses
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
18 Jan 16
I look forward to the fulfillment of Matthew 5:5. 
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
19 Jan 16
@just4him God has not given me that prospect at this time. I do not not have the desire to go to heaven. Paradise on earth is what God has given me and I an happy with that gift.
My scheduled Bible reading for this week is Ezra chapters 1-5. I have finished reading the chapters but meditation and study will continue throughout the week. I was impressed by the fact that God can move even those ("stirred up the spirit of Cyrus") that do not worship him to cooperate. Ezra 1:1,5.
2 people like this
@just4him (306724)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
20 Jan 16
@1hopefulman God did the same with Pharaoh.
2 people like this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
19 Jan 16
I am waiting to see this here on earth: "10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace...29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever." Psalm 37 (King James Version)
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (36486)
• Toccoa, Georgia
24 Jan 16
It is good you are having daily Bible studies. I have gotten slack lately.
1 person likes this
