Day 352, 18th August: Ezra, Revelation and Proverbs

Together Great Barriers Can Be Overcome
By Nick Gaughan, Soul Survivor:Called to Lead

Todays Readings Are:
Ezra 2:68-4:5
Revelation 9:13-10:11
Proverbs 30:24-33

So today’s reading is a bit random people giving generously to fiery angles and looking at how animals walk around….different.

So day 2 of ezra and we’re through the lists. Pretty much what’s going on is that Israel have got planning permission and they start building but there is a mixed reception, some shout for joy and the old people say “Back in my day it was much bigger and better.” What’s all the fuss about? Well firstly the Israelites give a massive amount of money and it was freely given based on what you could afford,, so the rich and poor gave in equal proportions but different amounts. Also this isn’t an overnight event, it is a year of hard labour and a lot of commitment. It seems to me that as I learn more about God and get to know him better, I find He delights more in the things that take a long time or require more commitment. Not because He is a hard task master but because it is a definite way of showing him through actions that I love Him.

Revelation…. This is the one you’ve all been waiting for, Armageddon. This passage is a hard one to swallow when we think of “our God is love” and “Saviour”. God does show that despite severe justice that even then the world will not accept Jesus or live lives in accordance with God’s good and perfect will, and these are the sad realities of life. It is the tough but at the end of the day not everyone is going to be saved, it is their choice and they have chosen not to accept the forgiveness of God in Jesus’ death on the cross. What more could God do?

Proverbs has some hidden wisdom about learning from the example of different animals and how together despite their individual weakness, together great barriers can be overcome, might be a useful lesson even for our uber-sophisticated individualistic society.

Keep soldiering on and have a great day.

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Today’s picture was taken by…
Tim. Thanks Tim!

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