BE A HELPER!

NAME the truly great men and women of your lifetime. Celebrities, politicians, war heroes, sports figures, and maybe your parents and special friends would come to mind. You remember them because of certain acts or character qualities. Now, name some Biblical heroes - figures etched into your life through countless sermons and Sunday School lessons. This list undoubtedly includes many who served God faithfully and courageously. Does your list include EZRA? Far from being well-known, this unheralded man of God deserves to be mentioned in any discussion of greatness. Ezra was a priest, a scribe, and a great leader. HIS NAME MEANS “HELP” AND HIS WHOLE LIFE WAS DEDICATED TO SERVING GOD AND HELPING GOD'S PEOPLE. Tradition states that Ezra wrote most of 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Psalm 119, and that he led the council of 120 men who formed the Old Testament canon. He centres the narrative of the book Ezra around God and His promise that the Jews would return to their land, as promised by Jeremiah (Jer. 25:12-14; 29:10). This message formed the core of Ezra's life. The last half of the book of Ezra gives a very personal glimpse of the man, Ezra. His knowledge of Scripture and his God-given wisdom were so obvious to the king that he appointed Ezra to lead the second emigration to Jerusalem, to teach the people God's Word, and to administer national life (Ezra 7:14-26). EZRA NOT ONLY KNEW GOD'S WORD, HE BELIEVED IT AND OBEYED IT! Upon learning of the Israelites' sins of inter-marriage and idolatry, Ezra fell in humility before God and prayed for the nation (Ezra 9:1-15). Their disobedience touched him deeply (Ezra 10:1). His response helped to lead the people back to God. Read the book Ezra, and also remember Ezra, the man - A HUMBLE, OBEDIENT HELPER. COMMIT YOURSELF TO SERVING GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE LIFE AS HE DID! Also keep on serving and helping others. [Life Application Bible, The Living Bible, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 1988].