How can Ezra's example inspire our commitment to Scripture in today's world? Setting the Scene “For Ezra had set his heart to study and to practice the Law of the LORD, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10) Ezra’s Threefold Resolve • Set his heart to study — deliberate, disciplined pursuit of truth • Set his heart to practice — personal obedience before public influence • Set his heart to teach — passing on what he had first grasped and lived Why This Matters Today • Studying the Word shapes convictions in a culture awash with opinions. • Practicing the Word guards us from hypocrisy and lends credibility to our witness. • Teaching the Word multiplies impact; Scripture meant for one generation becomes life for the next. Digging Deeper: Scripture Echoes • Psalm 119:11 — hiding the Word in the heart to resist sin echoes Ezra’s resolve to study. • Joshua 1:8 — “meditate on it day and night… do according to all that is written”; study and practice together. • James 1:22 — “be doers of the word, and not hearers only,” matching Ezra’s commitment to practice. • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — Scripture equips “for every good work,” underscoring why Ezra taught. • Nehemiah 8:8 — Ezra later reads the Law publicly, illustrating the teaching phase in action. Practical Steps for Us 1. Schedule unhurried time daily to open the Bible; protect it like any vital appointment. 2. Keep a journal: one column “What it says,” another “How I’ll live it today.” 3. Memorize key verses; they travel where a printed Bible may not. 4. Share with someone each week—family member, friend, small group—what God showed you. 5. Serve from overflow: teach Sunday school, lead a study, post Scripture insights online. The Ripple Effect When believers mirror Ezra’s pattern—study, practice, teach—families are strengthened, churches rooted, and communities shown a living picture of God’s unchanging truth. |
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