Sun.’s Devo - Remove the Unholy From the Holy -

Read: Ezra 8:21-9:15; 1Corinthians 5:1-13; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 21:1-2

Ezra had just gotten permission to take exiles back to Jerusalem and was given much gold and silver from the king to use to offer sacrifices to the Lord. He told the king that the Lord was good to all who seek him and would pour his wrath on all who forsake him so he was embarrassed to ask for military protection. So, he proclaimed a fast to pray that God would protect them as they traveled with all this great amount of wealth. He selected 12 of the priests and divided the gold and silver in their hands to be responsible for it till they got to Jerusalem. 

God heard their prayer and got them safely to Jerusalem. On the fourth day they took all the gold and silver to the house of God and gave it to Meredith the priest there. They weighed and counted all of it and recorded it. 

The officials of the land told Ezra that the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites had not separated themselves from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonnites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. They had married them and given their daughters and sons to marry them. They had become a mixed people. Ezra was sick with grief when he heard this. 

After mourning, Ezra fell on his knees and interceded for the people’s sin. They had married the very people the Lord had told them to kill and take possession of their land because they were so evil. God had warned them against marrying them and seeking their peace or prosperity and now they had done just that. He asked that God forgive them and not consume them since they were the only remnant left.

In Corinthians, Paul finds himself in the same predicament Ezra found himself in. Paul finds out there is terrible sin going on in the church of Corinth. Sexual immorality was being tolerated which the world wouldn’t even tolerate. A man in their congregation was having sex with his own mother-in-law while his father was alive. She was a heathen so Paul doesn’t address her, but the man claims to be a Christian. Paul is appalled that the church is allowing it and not mourning this sin. Paul calls for this person to be removed from the church. 

Paul prayed that God will judge this man and instructs the Church to turn him over to Satan so he can destroy his flesh in order for his spirit to be saved on the day of the great judgement. 

Then Paul addresses how they boast about which leader they follow and tells them that a little sin makes the whole person a sinner. They were not to have malice in their heart but have a sincere heart of truth. 

Paul tells them that there is no way not to have to associations with sexual immoral people in the world because you would have to leave this world not to do that. But, they can choose not to associate with immoral people in the church. They are not to judge the world, but they are to judge those in the church and purge the sinners out. This is one of the most misunderstood principles of God. We are to judge those who claim to know Christ. They are our brothers and sisters and discipline must happen in the family if it is to function properly. 

Lord, may we be respectful of the fact that we represent our whole family of faith. May our lives bring honor to your family of faith and to you. Give us strength to do what we need to do to keep your house holy.

Sat.’s Devo - Ezra’s Role -

Read: Ezra 7:1-8:20; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 20:28-30

After Darias’ reign, Artaxerxes came to reign. This is the king who married Esther. 

Ezra is introduced who was the grandson or great-grandson of Seraiah who was the high priest put to death by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah in 2Ki 25:18. It had been one hundred thirty years since he was killed. Seriaiah’s grandson Jeshua now held the office of high priest and had accompanied Zerubbabel in the first caravan of returning exiles. Ezra must have been a grandson, too. Ezra was a skilled scribe and the Lord was with him.

Ezra left Babylon in the seventh year of Artaxerxzes with some the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants and people. It took them only five months to get to Jerusalem. He had with a letter from Artaxerxes saying that any of the Jews who wanted to go with him could go. He gave Ezra gold and silver and anything the people wanted to give to use it to buy animals for offering to the Lord. Anything they needed for the sacrifices would be provided so they could pray for blessings from the Lord on the whole land. He was also to make sure the men serving in the Temple were not taxed. 

The king told Ezra to do whatever the Lord told him. He was to appoint magistrates, and judges to judge the people according to the laws of the Lord and the king. Ezra was to decide what their punishment should be according to his knowledge of the law of God and the law of the land.

Ezra blessed the king for wanting to do this. and he gathered many people who wanted to return to Jerusalem. But, among the hundreds that wanted to return there were no priests. He sent word to the leading men of the towns to send an appeal for priests and over 250 priests responded. 

In Corinthians, Paul explained the difference between the way the pagans looked at their priests and the way the church should look at their leaders. The people judge the pagan priests but God is the one who judges the church’s priests and leaders. The Jewish religion made known to all the people the mysteries of their religion, while the pagans concealed their mysteries from all but the "initiated" few.

So, since everything is transparent in the church and everyone can know the mysteries of God, there is no reason to be puffed up and think more of themselves than they ought. 

Paul went to great care to let them know his state of his affairs. He was poor in the world’s eyes, yet he had the wisdom of God which made him very wealthy. He came to them as a father, not like their leaders who lorded their authority over them. 

Paul was sending them Timothy to teach them the ways of Christ and hoping to come later, Lord willing. Paul reminded them that the kingdom of God does not consist of of talk but power. He asked them if they want him to come with a rod of correction or the spirit of gentleness. Paul was their example of how to live a humble godly life. He was giving them time to repent and change.

Lord, may we remember that we have nothing that you haven’t given us. Help us to be grateful and humble instead of arrogant and proud. You have given us so much and we are very thankful. May we be good stewards of all the blessings you have given us.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Deliverance

Read: Ezra 5:1-6:22; 1 Corinthians 3:5-23; Psalm 29:1-11; Proverbs 20:26-27

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah began to prophesy to the people to complete the rebuilding of the temple. Zerubbabel responded and rose up as a leader and began the rebuilding.

The governor Tattenai and Shethar-bozenai and their group came and asked them who gave them permission to build this building. They also tried to intimidate them by asking for a list of all the men who were working on it. Zerubbabel said they would not stop until they got a letter from Darius asking them to stop. So, Tattenai sent a letter to Darius telling him that the temple to the Lord was being rebuilt and when he asked them who gave them permission to rebuild it and a list of who they were, they answered that they were servants of the God of heaven and earth. They said that Cyrus had given them a decree that it was to be rebuilt and gave them the vessels he had taken from their previous temple so they could put them in the new temple. They claimed that King Cyrus had sent Sheshbazzar to lay the foundation. The letter asked Darius for a search to be made in their archives to see if this were true or not and let them know what to do about these men who were rebuilding the temple.

A search was made and the decree was found. Darius read the dimensions of the temple to be built and how it was to be funded perpetually so that God may bless the king. Darius sent a letter back telling Tattenai to not only allow them to build it, but to fund it totally and without delay. If they didn’t it will cost them their life and the lives of their household. 

Tattenai quickly obeyed the king and the house was finished on the third of Adar. The people of Israel celebrated its dedication with hundreds of sacrifices and with much joy. They began celebrating the feasts beginning with Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 

When the people responded to the prophets, God could fight for them. God expects our obedience first and then he acts to protect us. He will cause even our enemies to bless us.

In Corinthians, Paul explained that the leaders they so highly regarded were just instruments of the Lord. They each had their place in helping the body. They were servants, not lords over them to be worshipped. They were to bring the people closer to the Lord, not to themselves. Jesus Christ is the foundation, not some man. Those who build their lives on the foundation of Christ will stand in the fires of judgement. We are all building the temple of God in our hearts. 

Lord, may your temple stand in us. May we build upon nothing but Christ. May we receive the reward of a faithful servant and may our works remain. May our wisdom be in You alone. 

Thurs.’s Devo - The Foundation is Laid -

Read: Ezra 3:1-4:24; 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4; Psal 28:1-9; Proverbs 20:24-25

The returned exiles met during the month of the fall feasts. Jeshua the priest and Zerubbabel rose up as leaders to build the altar to burn offerings on. They did it like Moses had written it should be done. They offered the morning and evening sacrifices and all the ones prescribed in the book of Moses. 

They gave money to the masons and carpenters so they could buy cedar from Lebanon from the gold and silver Cyrus had given them. In the second month of the second year of their return they began to build the temple. When they laid the foundation they did it with the sound to trumpets, cymbals, and singing to praise the Lord. All the people shouted praise to God. But many who had lived during Solomon’s temple cried when they saw this foundation laid. Others shouted for joy. Their sound was heard from far away.

Their adversaries came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the families and asked to help saying that they worshiped the same God. But, Zerubabbel and the leaders were not deceived by them and wouldn’t allow them to help. Then they tried to intimidate them and frustrate their plans. They continued troubling them all the time Cyrus was king and into Darius’ reign. 

When Ahasuerus became king of Persia they sent him a letter accusing the Jews in Jerusalem calling them rebellious and their city evil. The letter told the king of their plans to build a temple and a wall and when it was finished he would have no power in that city. 

Ahasuerus responded by telling them to stop the building of the temple until they could research the archives to see if what they were saying was true. These instigators were quick to bring the letter and read it to the Jews and forced them  stop building. They stopped building till the second year of the reign of Darius. 

Building the Temple was a natural event that symbolizes a spiritual concept that Paul was eluding to. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so we are also building a house for the Lord. We have the same adversaries that the Jews faced in the time of Ezra. We face opposition and frustration and discouragement, but we have to keep building and not let the enemy win. 

In Corinthians, Paul continued to explain the wisdom of God in sending Jesus to be our Savior. If the wise of the world had understood God’s plan, they wouldn’t have crucified Christ. The prophets foretold of a thing that God was going to do that no one could have imagined. But these things are known to believers because of the Holy Spirit who knows the deep things of God. We have received that Spirit so we know them too. 

The natural man can not understand the things of the spirit because they are spiritual. But, the spiritual man can judge all things because he has the mind and Spirit of Christ.   

Paul tells the church at Corinth that because they have not conformed to the Spirit of Christ and still live with jealousy, and strife then Paul cannot talk to them as spiritual people. He can’t give them the meat of God’s word because they are still like infants who can only drink milk. 

Lord, may we not be infants who live according to our past self. May we be new creatures who had laid our lives on the altar and have not turned back to our past sins. May we walk in maturity and be your friend and not your adversary. May we build your temple in our hearts.

Wed.’s Devo - Cyrus’ Decree -

Read: Ezra 1:1-2:70; 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5; Psalm 27:7-14; Proverbs 20:22-23

One of the first things Cyrus did the year he became the king of Persia was to make a proclamation that God had charged him to rebuild the temple to him in Jerusalem. He asked for any volunteers of the Israelites who wanted to go do this. 

Cyrus brought out all the things that had been taken from Solomon’s temple and put them in Mithrdath’s care. It was over 6,000 gold and silver vessels. They would all be taken with the volunteers to put in the new temple. 

Fifty thousand Israelites responded and went. Of them were Levites, temple servants, sons of Solomon’s servants, heads of families, and some whose genealogy couldn’t be proved. Their families had not been recorded in the genealogies so they were excluded from being priests until they could get a priest to consult with the Urim and Thummim. 

They settled in their own towns in Israel. It had bee 70 years since Israel had gone into captivity and now the words of the prophets were coming to pass.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he begins by saying that the cross of Christ has no affect to the unbeliever but it is the power of God to save the believer. He contrasts what the world thinks is wisdom and what God thinks is wise. Jesus was a stumbling block to the ones who thought they were wise. Those people required proof, but Paul preached that Christ crucified. It sounded foolish and weak to the unbeliever, but was actually wise and stronger than anything they had to offer. 

Paul pointed out that most of those in the church were not what the world would call wise, prosperous or of nobility, but God chose them to shame the ones who were wise, prosperous and of nobility. 

Paul was an example of the weakness of God. He walked in humility and fear but could demonstrate God’s power which was much more powerful than the wisdom of man. 

If we know Christ then his wisdom is in us and we do not need to ever be intimidated by the world. We have the power of God, the mind of Christ, the Holy Spirit and the written promises of God. 

Lord, may we walk in humble confidence knowing that no one can stand against You and You are in us. Our confidence and our hope is in you alone. May we walk in your wisdom and grace and may our lives be a living testimony of who you are.

Tues.’s Devo - The Last Kings of Judah

Read: 2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 20:20-21

Josiah orchestrated a Passover that surpassed all other Passovers since the days of Samuel. Josiah contributed thousands of lambs and goats and bull for the people. The priests and Levites carried out their services according to all Josiah asked and the law required. There was much celebration and joy in the city.

Josiah heard that Neco king of Egypt was going to fight at Carchemish and went to oppose him. The king of Egypt told him he was not coming up against him, but Josiah fought him anyway. Josiah was wounded in the battle and died. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned his death. His son Jehoahaz was made king but only reigned 3 month because the king of Egypt took him to Egypt and set his brother Eliakim over Judah and made them pay him tribute of silver and gold.

The king of Egypt changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim was evil and fought against Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and was taken in chains to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also took the vessels out of the house of the Lord  and took them to Babylon. 

Jehoiachin became the next king and he was also evil. He only reigned three months and ten days because Nebuchadnezzar had him brought to Babylon and made his brother Zedekiah the king over Judah and Jerusalem. He ruled for 11 years and was evil. He refused to listen to Jeremiah and he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar and polluted the land with idolatry.

God sent many prophets to bring Judah back to him but they mocked them and refused to listen. So God brought the king of the Chaldeans against them who killed their young men in war and had no compassion on the people. They took all that was of value from the Temple and the palace of the king and burned down the Temple and took the people into exile to Babylon. 

The land lay desolate for 70 years. Cyrus became king in Persian and just like Jeremiah had prophesied, he commanded that a house be built in Jerusalem for the Lord. He asked for volunteers of the Jews to go and build it. 

Today we begin to read the first letter Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. Paul had heard that they were arguing about which leader they followed. He encouraged them to be united and be of the same mind and judgment. 

He told them that none of them were lacking in any gift. They were all waiting for Christ to be revealed and prayed that they would be sustained to the end so that they could stand guiltless before him. 

Lord, may we stand guiltless before you in the end. May we read nothing but Jesus crucified, buried and resurrected. May we not  let our different denominations divide us and may we fear only you. Thank you that you are our light and there is nothing else for us to fear.

Mon.’s Devo - The Faithful and the Unfaithful

 ead: 2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33; Romans 16:8-27; Psalm 26:1-12; Proverbs 20:19

Manasseh’s repentance was real. He fortified the city of David with an outer wall and put army commanders in all the fortified cities. He cleansed the Temple of all idols and commanded Judah to serve the Lord. The people still worshiped in the high places but they worshiped the Lord there.

When Manasseh died, his son Amon ruled. He undid all the good Manasseh had done. He brought back the foreign gods and  worshiped them which much guilt for Judah. Some of his own servants did a coup and killed him in his own house. The people of the city killed his murderers and made Amon’s son Josiah king. 

Josiah was only 8 when he became king. When he was 16 he began to seek the Lord. He began to purge Judah of idolatry and at 20 he had cleansed the land and the Temple. He met with Azaliah, the governor of Jerusalem, and the recorder to plan to restore the damages in the Temple. They went to the high priest and gave him the money collected and told him to use it to repair the Temple. The priests and Levites hired workers to repair the Temple. 

While they were working in the Temple, they found a copy of the law and brought it to Josiah. When he read it, he tore his clothes. He realized how far they had gone from serving the Lord and what the consequences would be. 

Josiah sent for a prophetess and asked her what the Lord was saying to Judah. She told him that the curses written in the law would fall on Judah, but because Josiah had sought the Lord and had a humble heart, it would not happen during his days. 

Josiah gathered the elders together and the people and read to them the words of the law. Josiah made a covenant before the Lord to walk according to God’s ways and follow his law. He made all the people join with him in this. He took away all the abominations from the land and made all who were present serve the Lord. Josiah remained faithful to the Lord all his days.

In Romans, Paul finishes his letter. He names many of those who labored along side him and he wanted to introduce to the Romans. He warned them of those who would want to cause division among them. They did not serve the Lord but their desire was to deceive the people. He told them to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. He encouraged them that Jesus would soon crush Satan under their feet. He prayed for the grace of Jesus Christ to be with them. 

Lord, may we be hopeful as we wait for your kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. May we stay true to your Word and walk in your ways all our days as Josiah did.