[an error occurred while processing this directive] TheBible.net: Ezra 7:10
Ezra 7:10
by Jody L Apple
"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."

This magnificent verse contains within it three vital principles that we need to apply to our lives every day. When we begin to use them in our daily affairs, we will be that much closer to living a Christ-like life.

First, we must prepare our hearts to seek the law of the Lord. It is easy to realize that in order to be a doctor or a lawyer a person needs to go through extensive preparation. Years of study and dedication must pass in order to reach the goal. Why then, do we as Christians so often fail to prepare spiritually for the Lord's service? Is it because we do not believe it to be important enough? Surely, if we are willing to spend thirty years to buy a house, four or five years to buy a car, and several months, or even a few years, to buy furniture for our homes - surely we would be willing to spend time in preparation of heart and mind to learn the word of the Lord. We all have Bibles to study. Within them we have the law of the Lord. Let us all begin to seek it more diligently.

Second, we must begin to do those things that God wants us to do. It is not enough to know when something needs to be done. In addition to knowing it, we must do it. The apostle John emphasized this when he wrote "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:...He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.....He that said he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." (1 John 1:6; 2:4, 6). It has been said that the best way to remembeLSPAat the Bible says is to put it into practice. After all, we are to be "epistles of Christ" (2 Cor. 3:1ff), therefore we should be living in our lives what is laid up in our hearts.

Third, if we have sought the law of the Lord, and if we are doing those things which the Lord would have us to do, then we should be willing to teach others about his will. This does not mean that we will just wait until someone asks us about the word of God, but it means we will actively seek to tell people of the message of salvation. When we sing the song "Lead Me To Some Soul Today" we should sing it with the thought in mind that we really are concerned about the salvation of souls. Isn't it the purpose of the Lord's church to preach the gospel to the world? Of course it is! (Matthew 28:18ff; Mark 16:15ff) Then let us begin to fulfill our share of the great commission (Acts 8:4).

If every Christian applied these principles to their lives more souls would be taught, more souls would render obedience to Christ, and the Lord's kingdom would prosper.

Additional Verses To Consider

1. Preparation of heart

1Sa 7:3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines."

1Ch 29:18 "O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You."

2Ch 12:14 And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD.

2Ch 19:3 "Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God."

Job 11:13 "If you would prepare your heart, And stretch out your hands toward Him;"

Ps 10:17 LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear,

Ps 57:7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.

2. Seeking the law of the Lord (read Nehemiah 8:1ff)

Ezr 7:6 this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

Ps 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Ps 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

Ps 119:45 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.

Ps 119:96 I have seen the consummation of all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Ps 119:97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Ps 119:98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me.

Ps 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.

3. Doing the law of the Lord

Ps 119:100 I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts.

De 16:12 And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.

Mt 5:19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Mt 7:24 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

Joh 13:17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Re 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

4. Teaching the law of the Lord

Ezr 7:25 And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them.

De 33:10 They shall teach Jacob Your judgments, And Israel Your law. They shall put incense before You, And a whole burnt sacrifice on Your altar.

2Ch 17:8 And with them he sent Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah--the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.

2Ch 17:9 So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the LORD with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

2Ch 30:22 And Hezekiah gave encouragement to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of the LORD; and they ate throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.

Mal 2:7 For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

Ac 1:1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Titus 2:1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:

Titus 2:15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

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