“And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach.” – Ezra 7:25

God can and will make a way! He will accomplish His will, no matter how improbable that may seem. If God can inspire a powerful pagan king ruling in a far off land to write these words, there can be no doubt that He can ALWAYS make a way. When things seem impossible, pray and keep on praying. If things look impossible for God’s will and God’s people, be patient and expect Him to move in astonishing ways.

Israel was a people in ruins. It wasn’t just their land that was ruined. They were ruined spiritually. They didn’t really know God anymore. They had forgotten the Law. They had forgotten how to be God’s people. So God appointed Ezra to go and rebuild them spiritually. He gave Ezra a burden to teach Scripture. Then God gave the King of Persia the desire to send Ezra to Jerusalem with money, power, protection, and the mandate to teach and do God’s will.

Why would a pagan king care? Because God made Him care! If God can move the heart of an ungodly king to accomplish His will, believe that God can move in whatever situation you find yourself. Devote yourself to loving God, making disciples, and doing His will. Whenever obstacles arise, pray and keep serving faithfully, no matter what. Let yourself be amazed by the power and faithfulness of God. If it’s His will, He WILL make a way! #FollowJesus

“She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne” – Revelation 12:5

Merry Christmas, Revelation-style! Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Christ is this child Who rules the nations with a rod of iron (see Psalm 2, Revelation 2, etc.). He alone is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Here in the midst of the complex imagery of Revelation we have this one-line summary of the earthly life of the eternal Son of God.

The divine took on humanity. Jesus was born of a virgin in Bethlehem, grew up and lived a sinless life, taught the truth and wisdom of God, and worked the works of God come in the flesh. Then He gave His life as a perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus took upon Himself the righteous wrath of God we deserve, suffering in agony on the cross before His death. He was buried and on the third day He rose from the dead. After 40 days, Jesus ascended up to Heaven where He sits at the right hand of God the Father, ruling, reigning, and making intercession for His people.

This tiny verse in Revelation sets the stage for the coming triumph of King Jesus that unfolds in the later chapters. One day, Jesus will return to this earth and defeat all His enemies. He will cast the Devil into the lake of fire and judge every person who has ever lived before renewing creation for the glory of God and the delight of those who have been made righteous as a gift of grace through faith in Him. When the days are dark and the news is bad, never forget that Jesus has already won the victory at the cross and sits on His throne waiting for the perfect moment to return and complete His Kingdom on earth. #FollowJesus

“One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.”
– Psalm 145:4

Each generation of believers has a responsibility to share their faith with the generations that follow. As the holidays draw near, who in the rising generations will you share the good news of Jesus Christ with? Note carefully what this verse describes. It doesn’t require a formal lessons and teaching. It calls on each of us to tell stories about God’s mighty acts. Can you do that???

Can you tell stories about how God has changed your life? What He has meant to you in times of trouble, fear, anxiety, or doubt? Can you tell stories of what Christmas is all about? Stories about Jesus, His life, His teaching, His miracles, His sacrifice, and His resurrection? Can you tell stories about why you know God is real and why you have hope when the world is telling these younger generations there’s no hope?

Can you do that? Of course you can!!! Spend a few minutes thinking about these questions and let the stories flood your mind and memory. Then pray and plan to tell those stories to younger generations who desperately need to hear that God loves them, hears them, understands them, and welcomes them through His Son Jesus. #FollowJesus

“But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy.” – Ezra 3:12

Isn’t it interesting how two groups of people could see the same thing and respond in such different ways? The faithful remnant that had endured exile in Babylon and returned to Jerusalem came together and laid the foundation for a new Temple in which to worship God. This was their number one job upon returning home. Most of the people there were excited. They’d worked hard and the foundation was finished. Soon (they thought), there would be a fine temple in which to worship God. So, they shouted with joy.

However, the older members of the group remembered how big and beautiful the first Temple had been. They knew the rebuilt Temple was pitiful compared to what had once stood in that place. They wept with sorrow for what had been lost. Neither group was wrong in their feelings. But here’s the thing…. The first Temple was gone. It was in the past and it wasn’t coming back. However, God was in the present and He was worthy of worship! It was reasonable to lament the old Temple’s destruction but that lament couldn’t be permitted to discourage or hold back the returned exiles from building the new, lesser, Temple.

The size or beauty of the Temple was much less important than its purpose. It was being built to worship the Living God of the Universe. While His Temple might have changed and diminished, God hadn’t. He had sustained the faithful through 70 years of exile and brought them home under the blessing and permission of a pagan king. God was, and is, worthy of all worship, no matter how humble or grand the building.

This is important to remember in our own time. Sometimes we can be tempted to live in the past that we remember as being much better than the diminished present. Even if that’s actually true, we must not let our mourning for the past keep us from investing our energy in worshiping and serving God right now. Even if we lament what once was, we must fully embrace what is and what is about to be for the glory of God here and now. God is the great I AM – He is eternally present. It is in the present that we should commit and #FollowJesus

“And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.” – Revelation 8:4

Revelation provides a vivid assurance of an important truth – prayer matters! The prayers of the saints are constantly rising up to God. These are the prayers offered up by every single person who has been born again through faith in Jesus Christ. If Jesus is your Lord, then you are one of God’s saints. Your prayers rise up from wherever you make them all the way to God.

Prayer is real. It’s effective. It’s important. Your prayers are an offering to your Father in Heaven. They are a sacrifice and offering in which God delights. They are intimate, personal communication between a child and their Father that deepens their relationship. Don’t doubt the power of prayer. You may go through seasons where you feel like your prayers aren’t being heard, valued, or responded to. You may feel like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. However, these are just feelings and feelings lie!

Let this verse encourage you that your prayers are always being heard and appreciated by the Creator of the Universe. Be encouraged about prayer and devote more time each day to praying to your God and Father. Jesus valued prayer so much that He got up early in the morning and went to lonely, dark places to spend more time in prayer. #FollowJesus in intentionally growing and deepening your prayer life – God is listening!