Mon.’s Devo - Back to Jerusalem

Read: Ezra 1:1-2:70; 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5; Psalm 27:7-14; Proverbs 20:22-23 Jeremiah had prophesied that Israel would be away from their land for 70 years then return. God moved on Cyrus’ heart to send the Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild their Temple to the Lord. He told all the Jews who now lived in Babylon that they could get donations from their neighbors to help them pay their way to return to Jerusalem. He would give them all the 5,400 items in his storehouse that had been taken from the Temple. *** A list of all the families was made and also a separate list of the families who were priests, Levites and temple servants. Other people went who could not prove their genealogy. In all there were 42,360 who returned in addition to 7,337 servants and 200 singers. 
 *** When they arrived they gave offerings of 61,000 gold coins, 6,250 pounds of silver and 100 robes for the priests. All of this was to go towards the rebuilding of the Temple. *** Paul explained to the church at Corinth that the message of the cross sounded foolish to those who couldn’t understand. They couldn’t see that to those who believed, it was the power of God. God hid his wisdom in the cross and the wisest people on the earth couldn’t find it. The Jews were looking for signs from heaven and the Greeks were looking to the wisdom of man but God in his wisdom hid the truth in the crucifixion of Christ. It was through his death that God’s power was displayed. Death was defeated and Christ was resurrected. *** Lord, may we always remember that that is your plan. You bring life out of death and joy out of pain. We trust that you are working everything for our good if we just trust you and follow your plan.