November 18 – Ezra’s Honor (Ezra 8:21-23)

“I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road.”(Ezra 8:22)

IN WORD:
Ezra did what Asa wouldn’t do. He sought God in a time of peril. Unlike the earlier king who sought alliances for protection and doctors for healing — faithless acts that put God last on the providence list — Ezra determined not to profane the name of the Lord. Having told Babylon’s ruler of the favor and strength of God, he could not slander the reputation he had just proclaimed. He knew his actions would speak louder than words. So he prayed. He didn’t pray and request an escort of warriors — that would have demonstrated a serious lack of faith. No, he just prayed, and God answered. Ezra demonstrates for us a dependence that God honors.

IN DEED:
Do you trust God as healer and then, as an afterthought, ask people to pray for your illness? Do you trust God as Provider and then, if you happen to think about it, pray for His supply? Do you trust God as Protector and then, just in case, invest in the best security systems money can buy? Are you an Asa or an Ezra?
Human effort in meeting our needs is not a sin. There’s nothing biblically wrong with seeing a doctor, investing wisely, and locking your doors. The sin is in our hearts. Where do we place our hope? On what or whom do we depend? When we think of ministering in Jesus’ name, do we shy away from dangerous places because we’re just not sure God will protect? Do we avoid the expense because we’re just not sure He’ll provide? Has sin caused us to measure our well-being in terms of materials and strategies rather than in the God in whom we believe?
God is first. Human effort is second, if at all. In God we trust. In human effort we obey what God tells us to do. But we can’t supplement our prayers with our own devices and then claim that we have faith. Faith actually trusts Him to do what He says he will do. Honor God with your faith, and He will honor your faith with Himself.

“A firm faith in the universal providence of God is the solution to all earthly problems.” -B.B. Warfield-