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Hear the devotional/podcast read here: https://bit.ly/3fThGeh
1 all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. 2 Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-19 NRSV)
May the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ be yours, ConCafe Family, on this wonderful Wednesday, and may you, dear Friend, be a major part of those blessings to the people in your life and whoever may come in as a new person. Pray for one another; pray for the needs in your life.
In 2010, a movie came out that to this day is very powerful in the message it conveys about the power of the Word. If you have not seen it let me say The Book of Eli is a dark movie, and has some violent parts and not really a kids' movie. But it asks us the question, how would our world be if someday a cataclysmic event wiped out all of our Bibles? And who would miss the Bible the most? Would humble, God-fearing, God-desiring people? Or, those who know of the power and influence the Bible has for wicked and misguided intentions? How would your world be like without a Bible? Or, is already a world without a Bible? (Don't raise your hands!)
There was a time just like that in Israel's history. We just heard a brief summary of it in the reading of this passage. The nation was in ruins. The people had been taken off to various places of the world as captives and servants to other kings and kingdoms. Ezra was such a captive. He was a scribe carried off to Babylon and felt God nudging him to return home to Jerusalem to help start rebuiling the temple. He was able to secure the permission to return to Jerusalem with other Judeans and there, holding a copy of the law fo Moses which he began to read. Have you ever found yourself away from the word of God and then one day out of the blue, you hear it again? How do you react? God has a wonderful way of sending people to come and share with you a word from Him that touches you and gives you just what you were seeking. I had a Jonah moment when I was hiding from God and several people came and shared just the word I needed to get me out of the whale's belly and back where God had wanted me. And yes, there was weeping.
As the people wept and celebrated this special day, and the governor and the scribe addressed the people with wise words, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." He adds, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." The joy of hearing the word (law) was evident in their receptive way in which they reacted, and these leaders emphasize the need for them, and us, to rejoice in our relationship with God, for that makes us stronger, wiser, and more prepared for life. God does, indeed, take great joy in our strength as this verse reads. Our goal is to be made stronger in Him, and through Him.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we pause to thank You for having shared Your Word with us. May we grow stronger in our appreciation for it, and for the way it has blessed us, guided us, and led us to You. Help us to embrace it and to allow it to lead us into the path You have prepared for us; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show off your strength to those around you in ways that gives God more joy.
Receive my love and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
