Reviving the Heart: Embracing Ezra’s Zeal for God’s Kingdom
Devotional Guest Post: Katherine Brey
Ezra 8-9; I Corinthians 14; Proverbs 6
Several years ago, I heard a worship song with two lines that struck me so profoundly that I cried instantly. Simple, yet direct and, for me, thought-provoking-
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for your kingdom’s cause
The song is beautifully written and inspiring, but these two lines gripped me the most. Sometimes, we sing to sing or to follow the crowd so we don’t look out of place. How often have we stopped to process what we are singing or worshipping?
Reading Ezra 8-9, I was reminded of these lyrics again. Let’s dive into who Ezra was. Recording a list of the strongest leaders in the Bible, Ezra may not make it to the top 10 or even the list at all. However, his leadership contribution was monumental in leading Israel’s rebuilding efforts and bringing about revival. Reading Ezra today is significant, for he patterned a life of intercession and zeal for God and His law.
In Ezra 8, this emboldened leader documented his responses to returning the exiles to Jerusalem. In verses 18 and 31, he recognizes that the success of this mission could only have transpired due to the gracious hand of God.
Ezra 8:18- Since the gracious hand of our God was on us, they sent us a man named Sherebiah along with eighteen of his sons and brothers. He was a very astute man and a descendant of Mahli, who was a descendant of Levi son of Israel. (NLT)
Verse 8:31- We broke camp at the Ahava Canal on April 19 and started off to Jerusalem. And the gracious hand of our God protected us and saved us from enemies and bandits along the way. (NLT)
In verse 21, Ezra breaks for a time of fasting and humbling the people before the Lord.
Ezra 8:21- And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled.
His continual drive and commitment to keeping the Israelites centered on the Lord were unwavering and commendable. As previous accounts attest, the Jews were not the easiest to lead with their repeated offenses of idolatry and hardened hearts. In chapter 9, upon discovering the Jews sinned once again by intermarrying with pagans, Ezra, the determined leader, models the correct response.
Ezra 9:6
O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens. (NLT)
What don’t you see in this verse? You don’t see them versus me narrative. As the leader of these people, he accepted the blame. How often have we seen a brother or sister in Christ actively living in sin? So many have adopted the sentiment that it’s “their life,” so it has nothing to do with me. We have become so desensitized to blatant sinning around us that we don’t even flinch when mentioned. We don’t cry out like Ezra and shout to God, “Oh, would you break my heart for what breaks Yours?” As I write this post, my heart is pierced with the strongest conviction because I bear the weight of not weeping and humbling myself on behalf of the bride of Christ.
This very message hits home so much as the news breaks of another ministry, which I was a part of and supported for years, comes crashing down. The reality is jolting for my family members who worked tirelessly in this ministry only to discover they were helping to build a house of cards. Yet, through it all, I can’t help but think that God is raising Ezras, who won’t stand by any longer. Their zealousness for God and His Word will cry, they will choose to have their hearts broken for the sake of the cross, and they will lead a new generation to rebuild. With confidence, this new generation of leaders will proclaim as Ezra did in verse 8:
But now we have been given a brief moment of grace, for the Lord our God has allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant. He has given us security in this holy place. Our God has brightened our eyes and granted us some relief from our slavery.
The narrative of Ezra is not a story of days gone by but of today. Our proper response is pivotal to the work God intends to do in us and through us. May we, too, find ourselves weeping, fasting, and humbled, believing it is all for His kingdom’s cause.
Prayer Point:
Father, we see how your gracious hand has been on us. We see how you are dismantling our systems, ministries, and religiosity to make way for your kingdom’s cause here on earth. God, we ask you to break our hearts of stone and indifference and make them hearts of flesh. May we be zealous for your truth and passion for the call of Christ on our lives. May we be brave enough to call out those living in sin, and together, may we come in humility to bring revival to a hurting world. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts
- Reflect on a time when you experienced a “gracious hand of God” moment in your life. How did it shape your faith and understanding of God’s presence and protection?
- Consider the concept of communal responsibility for sin, as modeled by Ezra. How can you apply this sense of shared accountability within your own community or church family?
- Ezra’s response to sin was marked by weeping, fasting, and humility. Reflect on your own response to sin, both personally and within your community. How can you cultivate a heart that breaks for what breaks God’s heart?
- The rebuilding efforts led by Ezra required courage, commitment, and a zeal for God’s law. Reflect on areas in your life or community that need rebuilding. What steps can you take to begin this process, and how can you keep God’s Word at the center?
- Katherine’s devotional highlights the need for leaders like Ezra in today’s world. Reflect on your own role within your community or family. How can you embody the qualities of Ezra to lead and inspire a commitment to God’s truth and revival?
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