Thoughts for another day

November 10, 2008.

Today's verse: Ezra 8:22. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

This is a beautiful statement from Ezra on dependence on God. The true mark of a Christian is when we say we are dependent on God for anything and everything; we cannot then stay dependent on things of the world, however beautiful they be because that would be two tongued, so to say. I don’t know whether you’ve undergone a situation where you say you are dependent on God for something and you live it. Time goes by, but the situation doesn’t improve. On the other hand, you find the world providing many enticing ways to solve your problem. What do you do? I have gone through this and believe me, remaining steadfast to your faith in God takes tremendous effort and will.

Putting myself therefore in Ezra’s shoes, I can understand his ‘situation’. What a challenge! The situation was one of grave danger to him and his band of people who were returning to Jerusalem from Babylon. They needed safety. There was a human solution and that was to petition the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to accompany them. But, since Ezra has spoken greatly about the Great King, he now felt it would be embarrassing to ask for help. What would you do in this situation? To a Christian, life throws up many situations where you are on the threshold of exercising your faith. It can be a difficult time of decision. But depending on what you do, can birth, either a testimony on the goodness of our God for His Glory or a human response. The choice is yours.