THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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Dad was really not feeling well. He took his 12-year-old son with him to the doctor. After the doctor visit, he received prescriptions to fill, so they drove to the druggist. Dad waited in the car while the son went in to have the prescriptions filled.
It had been a LONG time. The son finally came back to the car with the filled prescriptions. Dad asked, "Why did you have to wait so long?"
The boy said, "Well, several adults came in after me. The druggist waited on them first because I'm just a little boy. But he's gonna remember me!"
As they drove off Dad asked, "Why?"
The boy said, "While I was having to wait, I wound all the alarm clocks and set them. It's gonna be a really noisy place at 5PM!"
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Ezra 5:3-5
3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
KJV
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Ezra and the people who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon had already been detained by some. But because of the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, the people began to build again.
Then some other folk were sent to harrass them. They wanted to know the names of those involved in the building so they could send a letter to the king and have the building STOPPED!
But "the eye of their God was upon" them, and they kept building despite the harrassment.
Now here is a lesson for us in the 21st century.
First, there is no work for God that is going to go unnoticed by the critics of God. And they will try to hinder the work as much as possible.
Last year five Christians were arrested in Philadelphia for presenting the gospel in a public place and peacefully protesting a homosexual event. ((See American Family Association Journal, NOV/DEC, 2004.)) Well, so much for "brotherly love!"
Those Christians were arrested under the "hate crimes bill" and could face up to 47 years in prison!
In America? Yes! No work for God will go unnoticed by the critics of God! And they will try to hinder the work as much as possible. Those who seek to do evil despise those who hold up the Truth.
However, let's look at the second part of our Scripture. "The eye of their God was upon them."
God is present in every work for His glory! And He helps those involved.
For Ezra and company, God was present. God comforted. God encouraged.
And, God helped.
Let us be encouraged in this 21st century. We have God's presence and help when we are presenting the Truth to a predominately godless society.
Let us "contend for the faith" (Jude 3).
And let us "not be weary in well doing" (Galatians 6:9).
Love ya,
Bruce