Jun 30, 2023

Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering, twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord (Ezra 8:35).

Ezra 8 records a second group of exiles returning...

Jun 29, 2023

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory (Romans 8:17).

Most of us spend the occasional moment dreaming about the future. When we are young, we tend to dream about our futures in this world....

Jun 28, 2023

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 (Ezra 7:10).

The book of Ezra began with God moving the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia, to made provision for Israel to return to Jerusalem. Once there, they began rebuilding the temple of...

Jun 27, 2023

The Spirit you received doesn’t make you slaves. Otherwise, you would live in fear again. Instead, the Holy Spirit you received made you God’s adopted child. By the Spirit’s power we call God Abba. Abba means Father. The Spirit himself joins with our spirits. Together they tell us that we are God’s children.

Jun 26, 2023

Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy (Ezra 6:16).

Let’s focus on the last phrase of this text, ‘with joy’. The Israelites celebrated the completion of the new temple of God with joy. To fully appreciate this...