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Today is Saturday June 05, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezra, chapter 10. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-june-5
Bible Study: Truly Committed
When one thinks of the word adultery the first thing that comes to mind to most of us is an extramarital affair. The word adultery goes beyond a physical affair, it is being disloyal and betraying, it is breaking a commitment given to another. When we make a commitment whether, it be a marriage vow, a contract, or living our life for Christ we are accountable for following through with that commitment. If we are disloyal in any way, whether it be in body, mind, or spirit, we are committing adultery.
Ezra, after making the long four month journey to Jerusalem, was expecting to find a joyful place, instead he found one in ruins. Israelites, including Levites were married to Canaanite women, some of them having children with them. He was so distraught over their sins that it drove him to intense prayer. “Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it. Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware. ” - Ezra 10:1-5. Ezra's deep grief and the willing submission of the majority of the nation's leaders and people were exceedingly important from a national point of view. As the Israelites listened to Ezra proclaim the Word of God, they were convicted of their sins. Sometimes when others are living in sin the best thing we can do for them is pray for them. It brings about conviction and the majority of the time when people are feeling convicted that is when they repent.
One by one, each man who had married a Canaanite woman had to present himself with his wife and children before the court to determine whether or not they were involved in idol worship or were worshipers of the true God of Israel. “And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing. Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.” - Ezra 10:10-14. Any man found in idol worshiping was forced to divorce his wife, even if they had children together. If the wife was found to have been converted and worshiping only God then they were allowed to remain married and became an Israelite. Now, God does not condone divorce, but if a woman causes a godly man to live a heathen life He will make a way to end the relationship. Jesus Said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” - Matthew 5:32. This is why it is important that we be separated from non-believers. They will almost always get us away from God and into their wicked living. Although I never got married, praise God, I was involved with a man who was morally corrupt and took me right down there with him until I realized I did not know who I was anymore. God does not make up these rules to keep us from living a good life, He makes them to keep us from going through unnecessary suffering.
Every time we put people, things, hobbies, or careers before God, every time we miss a church service to go to a game, or every time we break one of His commands we are committing spiritual adultery with God. Now, God knows what we are going through, He knows there are times when we may have to work because of a conflicting schedule, get sick, get caught up in obligations, or are just having a rough day and He is okay with that. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” - Proverbs 28:13. What He is not okay with is deliberately going against our commitment to live our lives for Him. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” - Revelation 3:15,16. God knows our hearts and He will not pardon anyone who has not truly, wholeheartedly accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Of course we are going to sin, of course we are going to have days when God is not in the picture, but God will never leave nor forsake those who truly are committed to Him.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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