READING:
One-year plan: Ezra 6-10
Two-year plan: Psalm 119:135-176, 1 Corinthians 13
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Ezra’s grief over the sins of God’s people was quite serious, as today’s reading shows more than once:
- “When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated. . . I sat devastated until the evening offering” (Ezra 9:3-4).
- “My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward you, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens.” (Ezra 9:6)
- “Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God.” (Ezra 10:1)
- “He [Ezra] did not eat food or drink water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.” (Ezra 10:6)
One can only wonder how different it would be if pastors bore such a burden when their own people rebelled against God. I suspect church would be different if spiritual leaders deeply and passionately wept over the sins of others.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you weep over your own sin? Over the sin of others?
PRAYER: “Father, I fall face down in shame over my sin. Please forgive me, too.”
MONDAY’S READING:
One-year plan: Nehemiah 1-6
Two-year plan: Psalm 120-124, 1 Corinthians 14:1-11
MEMORIZATION VERSE (May 16-31)
“O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2 Chron 20:12)