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.