*Ezra 5-6;
Ezra 5 starts by highlighting that the prophet Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophets, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.
So Zerubbabel & Jeshua stepped out in faith to take action based on what the Prophets Haggai & Zechariah to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem that had been destroyed.
When the word of God is declared we need to take a bold step and take action based on what God has said. As men & women of God we may have to take those initial steps of faith with the people God sent us too as it will encourage them.
Opposition then rose up from the governor Tattenai & from Shethar-Boznai who challenged the work on the temple.
When progress is being made the enemy tends to raise challenges as an hindrance.
In Ezra 6 we see how God not only protects the rebuilding of the Temple He also makes adequate provision for the work through Emperor Darius’s decree. The lesson to learn here is when you are walking in God’s will, he opens doors and also brings provision.
*Psalm 95
In this Psalm God we are encouraged to appreciate God’s Almightiness and rulership over the whole Universe and praise and worship Him.
This scripture then goes on to warn us not to fall for the same mistake of stubbornness the people of Israel exhibited that caused them 40 years in the desert without coming into their place of rest and the place of rest.
*3 John
Reading this scripture one see through a letter the comparison between Gaius who is a good example of a believer and Diotrephes & Demetruis who had been bad examples of believers.
The Elder in encouraging Gauis is also encouraging us through prayer and godly counsel to be in good health physically just as our soul is healthy with the word of God.
Gaius is then commended about his commitment to the truth by living the truth and also through his demonstration of love to the saints
The Elder advises Gaius to imitate what is good as whoever does God is of God
Although this letter was address to Gaius like all scriptures it is indirectly speaking to us as believers that we may emulate the good example and distance ourselves from the bad example
In Christ
BM
Sixty-six books in a year 