"TO DO IT!"

Ezra 7:1-10                                 (ESV)
"1 Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,
2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,
3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,
4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest-
6 this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the LORD, the GOD of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his GOD was on him.
7 And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants.
8 And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9 For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him.
10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and "TO DO IT" and to teach HIS statutes and rules in Israel."



In studying the HOLY BIBLE as a whole, one could be left pondering just who it is GOD uses to further HIS call.  No one would argue that Moses was called of GOD to deliver HIS chosen people from the bondage of the Egyptians.  Yet Moses was a lowly sheep herder, and murderer, who lived outside of mainstream of society, and away from the limelight.  But GOD used Moses to in one of the most miraculous events to HIS Glory!

Ezra, on the other hand, had a lineage that would make most "proud"!  "He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses" (v.6) and even found favor with the king of Persia!  The hand of the LORD "his" GOD was on him, not the hand of the god of the Persian King!  If GOD can "harden Pharaoh's heart" (Exodus 14:4) and cause him and his hosts to drown in the Red Sea, it shouldn't surprise us that GOD could cause the king of Persia to favor Ezra.

GOD reveals HIMSELF through scripture.  HE can reveal TRUTHS in articles or books written by modern authors, but when a person MUST hear from GOD, HE will be found when you search HIS Word.  In verse 10 above, scripture records that "Ezra had SET HIS HEART to study the Law of the LORD"!   JESUS said in John 8:39-47 that the reason some CAN'T hear from GOD is because they are of the devil.  Ezra was determined ("set his heart") to hear from GOD, but not only to hear from GOD, but "TO DO IT" and to set an example by teaching GOD's Word and rules in Israel.

The pedigree of the messenger is not what sets the messenger apart from others.  The heart "TO DO IT" is what sets them apart!  Although Ezra had a heritage to be proud of, he desired not only to hear from GOD, but "TO DO IT"!  Too many times so-called men of GOD want to get a Word from GOD, but when it comes down to it they don't have a desire "TO DO IT", and their message is ineffective as the Holy Spirit hasn't been involved or consulted.  HEAVENLY FATHER, I pray that my life would be one that reflects an attitude of obedience and that my Spirit would display a "TO DO IT" mentality!!!