Devotion, Desire, Favor, & Keys - October 7, 2008

Scripture: Ezra 7:6-10

...this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. 7 Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

Observation:

I see a direct correlation between the favor of God toward Ezra and Ezra's devotional life. There are many different ways to accomplish the same task. I think of opening doors to get where you want to be. You can try and pick the lock, but this may take a while. You can get a running start and put your shoulder into it, but you may need some ibuprofen afterward. You can use a battering ram but that can make a real mess of things. Then there is the novel idea of using the key and turning the knob.

I really do believe that the life we want is the life that God intended us to have. Not the superficial/materialistic desires, but the deeper desires of our hearts - peace, joy, hope, acceptance, love, purpose, etc.... Unfortunately, many times we try to open the door to these things thru conniving (picking the lock), brute strength (putting your shoulder into it), or thru the use of other things like a battering ram (the battering ram may be money, status, power). I believe that the door to the deep desires of our hearts has a key that God holds.

Application:

Access to that key is tied in to our access of God's heart. If we grab hold of his heart, like Ezra, through devoting ourselves to scripture and His desires for our life then we will have access to the Key that will open the door to the future God has planned for us. One of internal joy, peace, purpose....

Prayer:

Father, thank you for the hope of a wonderful future in you. Thank you that as I connect myself to you thru my devotional life (prayer, scripture, obedience, etc.) I have favor with you and with men. Doors will be opened to me that take me further into your plan for my life - which really is the desire of my heart.