Thursday 20 Dec 2012

Thursday Reading: Ezra 5:2

Key Verse: Ezra 5:2
2  Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

Devotion:
Just because we continue to disobey God or continue to react against Him does not mean that we have changed what God can do in any way. We read about the many kings of Israel and we see how many walked with God and many did not. We see many who rejected God and bowed down to idols instead of to God, breaking even the first commandment that Moses was given on the tablets. But we then see that God, through them, has raised up people who turned the Jews round to face God again.

Sometimes it was a whole generation or two of people that were rejecting God and He needed to wait until they were out of the way until He would use the people again. God is not going to use the unjust to bring up the just because they will get corrupted by the unjust. Instead He changes the environment so that the just will be able to succeed.

We do see both the just and the unjust in the history of man and they are both kept there so that we can learn from both sides. We do not have to give into the ways of the unjust and we do not have to follow the ways of the evil ones. God continues to give us the choice in our lives and He continues to show us what is right so that we can make good choices – if we trust in Him and in His word.

God will always have the right people close to us to be able to help us when we need that help. He has upheld His Word for so many generations and He has made sure that each generation is given the right environment to make the most of what they have for God and for His glory. But that does not stop man running off in the other direction and choosing those evil ways instead of the righteous ways of God. In order for others to have the best environment we should be upholding God’s ways and His Law so that others can be encouraged instead of having to fight against the thorns and the evil ways. Trying to work against God is not going to work! Working with God will ensure an eternal future.

Points to Ponder:
Where do you think you are in God’s plan?

Is your plan working for or against God’s plan?