The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word "prepare" as to making ready beforehand for some purpose. We know the importance of being prepared in many areas. Cooks prepare meals, teachers prepare lesson plans, doctors have had to tell family members, "Prepare for the worst" as if that can really be done and the list could go on and on.
Recently I have been doing a study in the book of Ezra. I know that's an odd place to be in Scripture, but believe me, I've been in odder places than that. I personally believe we miss out on much God would have us learn from Scripture when we practically ignore the Old Testament except for our frequent reading of Psalms and Proverbs. In every Old Testament book, we find the heart and character of God revealed as clearly as they are revealed in the New Testament. There are jewels to be found in the Old as well as the New Testament if we are willing to do a little digging.
Ezra was a scribe who was a part of the captivity of God's people into the land of Babylon. However the remnant that was allowed to return to Jerusalem after the captivity was led by Ezra. Others had gone before his group to restore the city and temple. Ezra was to return and was very excited about being back in the homeland. Ezra, however, didn't just pack a bag for the trip. Ezra was greatly anticipating this homeward journey and we see some of his spiritual anticipation in Ezra 7:11:
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.
Ezra had strong feelings for the Laws and Word of God. Israel had been in captivity, away from their Godly heritage and the teachings of it. The people were going to have to be brought up to par if they were going to get back to being the people God wanted them to be. They had gone into captivity because of their disobedience and coldness toward the things of God. It was going to be important for them to not repeat the sin and mistakes of the past. Ezra's job was to bring revival to his people and revival never comes minus the teaching of and adherence to the Word of God.
There are four things I noticed in this one verse about Ezra, four steps he took in getting back to the basics spiritually. It would have to happen in him first and he knew that well. What were those things he put into place?
1. He HAD PREPARED his heart.
Before even tackling what God had planned, Ezra prepared his own heart. This always takes some settling down, thinking, evaluating and even making plans. Ezra didn't just jump and run. He was more methodical than that. He knew God's call but he also let it soak into his heart and mind. When he did that, he was ready to act.
When we approach Scripture, whether to read or study it, we too need to prepare. Many times the tendency is to sit down with Bible in hand, no plan, no thought ahead of time, read at random and expect to reap the fullest from our time in God's Word. The proper approach to the Word should always be that of prayer. It cleans us up, focuses our attention, and gets us centered on the Holy Spirit. After all, we can get nothing of any depth of meaning from it without asking the Holy Spirit to teach us.
Jesus told His disciples:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in my name, he
shall teach you all things, and bring all
things to your remembrance, whatsoever
I have said unto you.
John 14:26
2. Ezra had prepared his heart probably in many ways but the big way was to SEEK the Law of the Lord.
We don't know if Ezra had to do an actual physical search for a copy of Scripture or not. Theologians discuss this part of the verse as to what that word "seek" meant. Either way, Ezra had prepared his heart for what the Law would say to him when he had it in hand. Either way, he was a seeker. He was a scribe. He knew the Word as well as anyone could after years of captivity, but even though a teacher, he had to assimilate the Word for himself. He couldn't rely on the teachings of others. I don't know how many times I've told ladies how unfair it is to keep afloat spiritually through a preacher or teacher. As good as any may be, we have to seek the Word for ourselves allowing the Holy Spirit to work on us individually. I'm afraid that very often our reading is so casual that we don't even see half of what it says.
3. Ezra prepared his heart to DO it.
What did Ezra do?..".IT"...what was " IT."..seeking the law of the Lord. However, it didn't stop there for Ezra. He was prepared to put feet to the commands and directions he saw in the Law. He was a responder, not just a seeker. Being a seeker sounds good but what is that worth without putting action to what we have convicted of.
Spiritually we usually know what God wants us to do...it's a matter of knuckling down and doing it. I have generally found that women who seek advice usually know already what God would have them do. Maybe they want some kind of human confirmation or perhaps they want someone to talk them out of what they know they should do.
Some honest questions are in order:
* Am I going to read my Bible on a regular basis?
* Am I going to pay attention to what I read?
* Am I going to ask the Holy Spirit to teach me?
* When convicted to action, am I determined to do what Scripture asks of me?
I believe every Christ, sometime in his/her walk comes to a crisis where the Word of God is concerned. We must decide if what we read has enough validity to put it into the very core of our spiritual being and then to put it into everyday action. The decision of what Ezra was going to do with the Word was as good as decided when he "had prepared his heart."
4. Ezra knew he had to TEACH the laws and judgments of God to his people.
What God taught Ezra regarding His word, Ezra knew he had to pass that along to his people or they would remain in spiritual ignorance. This is where many Christians duck. I am a teacher, love teaching, and feel it's God's gift given to me to teach. I've done it for years. It's not a matter of bragging, it's just a matter of fact. I hasten to add, however, that every Christian walking and talking on this earth is a teacher. We teach all the time and don't realize it. We teach in our lifestyle and conversation, we teach in the casual advice we give a friend, we teach through notes and cards we send to others and we teach through media contact such as Facebook and e-mailing.
For instance, I can't tell you the things I have learned from friends on Facebook and e-mails. Some share things they've learned through devotionals or in sharing verses of Scripture. Many share quotes, messages or small articles that on certain days come to me as refreshing as a cool drink of water on a very hot day. Many Christians shy away from these means through media. If Christians would only view these tools as a means for being a spiritual encouragement by sharing God's blessings or His Word through meaningful verses of Scripture.
Ezra was broken hearted when he got to Jerusalem and saw the sin his people had already become involved in, one being the intermarrying with the heathen "ites." Through the teaching of Ezra, but mostly through his praying, the people separated themselves from their immediate sinful ways. One of the sweetest prayers in Scripture is prayed by Ezra in 9:5-15, a prayer in many parts we could pray over our own country. When you have a few minutes, read it for yourself.
With prepared hearts, we are not only equipped to seek from the Word of God, but to do it in the power of God. As we learn, we teach others perhaps in quiet ways the teachings the Holy Spirit has taught us through His Word. So Ezra PREPARED, SOUGHT, DID and TAUGHT. Can we do no less?
Heavenly Father...So often I have a surfacy love of your Word. I believe it, I wouldn't want to be without it, but I'm often too casual with it. Help me to prepare my heart for your Word in anticipation of what You want to say to me through it. Holy Spirit, be my teacher. I pray you would also energize me in putting into my living the walk of obedience. Thank you for providing the Bible to me that I may love and know You better. Amen
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