Freedom in Jerusalem
Today’s Through the Bible Reading: Ezra 8:15-10:44
What better day to feature an excerpt from Jesus, Day by Day than its launch day! After years in the works, Jesus, Day by Day is finally available TODAY. Praise the Lord. So without further ado, here’s today’s devotion…
He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God. Ezra 9:9, NIV
Only about fifteen hundred Jews followed Ezra out of captivity in Babylon back to Jerusalem (Ezra 8:1–15). Many of those who had been carried away to Babylon, or who were born during the captivity, had become quite comfortable there. It’s easy for you and me to think, Why would anyone not choose to return to their homeland and live in freedom? The problem was they knew hard work awaited: the labor of rebuilding their destroyed city.
Ezra beckoned the Jews in Babylon to follow him to Jerusalem, but he did not force anyone to leave. That’s how it can often be with you and me. Although we’ve been set free from sin, we sometimes find it more comfortable to stay where we are and, as a result, end up stuck in captivity (Eph. 2:1–5). We hear our Helper calling us to take up our cross and follow Christ (Matt. 16:24). The question is whether we’ll willingly leave the comfort of captivity in order to embark on a long journey to freedom—and embrace the hard work of restoration.
For the Jews, leaving Babylon was just the first step in their journey. Once they reached Jerusalem, Ezra taught them God’s law and how to worship in the newly rebuilt temple. Once we decide to follow Christ, He calls us to embark on a journey of obedience, and if we hearken to His call, He instructs us in how we should live and worship (1 Cor. 6:19–20).
How is the Holy Spirit leading you today? Will you follow? The road to Jerusalem isn’t easy, but it is where you and I are truly set free.
Keep reading: 1 Chronicles 3:17–24
Today’s devotion was an excerpt from Jesus, Day by Day.
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by Sharon Kaselonis / All rights reserved ©