SWHW Bible Reading Plan: September 2021Sample

Top Takeaway from Liz Patton:

I love so much that in just the few, short chapters we read today, Ezra is described as being someone who “the gracious hand of the Lord his God” was upon. (Ezra 7:6, 9, and 28).  Of all the things someone could say about you -- wouldn’t you just absolutely love for it to be that the Lord’s hand was upon you?  Me too!

When I got to Ezra 7:10, the words just jumped off the page to me:

“For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”  

Ezra had three intentions, and I believe as Christ-followers, we should all have the same.  Let’s break them down: 

1. Ezra devoted himself to studying God’s Word.  I personally love the way the ESV says it, “Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord.”  Are our hearts set on devoting ourselves to being in God’s Word on a regular basis?  And not just so we can take an Instagram-worthy picture of our quiet time, but actually spending time being in fellowship with God in His Word with the intention for it to change us?  
2. Ezra devoted himself to observing God’s Word.  It wasn’t just enough for him to read it, but actually DO what it says.  We can’t just be hearers of the word, but doers of it (James 1:22).  What good is head knowledge if it doesn’t bring a heart change, right? 
3. Ezra devoted himself to teaching God’s Word to others.  I have a feeling that you have experienced teaching God’s Word to someone else at one time or another.  Whether it’s been to your kids, your small group, or a friend you’re discipling, anytime we have to teach God’s Word, we get it down into our souls at a deeper level than if we had just read it for ourselves.  

May Ezra’s example inspire us to not just read God’s Word, but to study it, observe it, and teach it to others.  And may we then be able to say the same as Ezra in Chapter 7:28, “Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered the leading men from Israel to go up with me.”

Dear God, thank You for the example of Ezra.  God, it’s our heart’s intention to not just be hearers of Your Word, but doers.  Help us to have the courage to do what Your Word says.  And if we aren’t currently teaching Your Word to someone else, please lay on our hearts who You want us to share Your Word with and make that super clear to us.  May You be glorified by all we say and do as we draw closer to You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.