BE PREPARED

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek

the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and

to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Ezra 7:10

So often, I find myself wondering about certain people we find in Scripture.  I sometimes wonder what they looked like, voice range, personalities, etc.  I have come to feel that way about Ezra.

Ezra was a unique man.  We read that he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses.  He was brought up from Babylon because of God's hand on his life to fulfill a definite purpose. From Babylon to Jerusalem must have been a drastic change, but come he did, seemingly without hesitation.  His trip took him a good bit of time just getting from one place to the other, but God's wonderful hand was on Ezra's life.

The king it would seem had high regard for Ezra.  In the copy of a letter, King Artaxerxes spoke of Ezra as being a priest, scribe, expert in the words of the commandments of the LORD.  (V 11). 

The thing that really caught my attention was the above verse.  Ezra had a calling to go to the city of Jerusalem where he would teach and preach the things of God's Law.  What I saw about Ezra in that verse really caught my attention.  He didn't just take a trip, arrive and then hit it running teaching the people.  I saw something in that verse that made me wonder personally if there's something in my own teaching I should be thinking about prior to actually teaching a lesson.

In that verse, I see three things:   

*Ezra had prepared his heart, time spent, to seek the Law of the Lord

*what he read and studied, he saw the necessity of putting those principles to work,

and, *Ezra would then teach those laws and principles to the people.

That's a big three for any preacher or teacher, but what if you don't do either in an official capacity.  Those things should still apply to anyone who loves the Lord and His Word.  Seeking the Lord at any time or place means preparing to do so with determination.  All of us should be making efforts to seek Him.  What anyone learns from being in the Word should be applied and lived out in one's life.  After those two things, we are often in positions of teaching others when we don't even realize it.  

We are all teachers at one time or another.  May we prepare our hearts to know Him and His Word better, put it into loving practice and be prepared (if not surprised) how God will use us in being a blessing to others.

Help us Father, to be prepared to share You with our parts of the world.  It will mean times of study and a loving relationship with You to attain such.  Give us a voice to share You with others.  Most of all, we want more and more of You in our lives.   

In Jesus' sweet name..Amen