Ruins to RestorationSample

PRAYER:

PRAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD MAKE YOU MORE LIKE JESUS.

DEVOTIONAL:

During their journey to Jerusalem, Ezra gives instruction to the people who are making the

journey with him and in those instructions he makes the statement that they, as a people, are holy

and that the items that they are carrying with them are holy. This word, “holy”, isn’t a word we

often use in everyday conversation, but it’s one that occurs over and over again within Scripture.

So, what does it mean?

Simply put, the word, “holy” means set apart or uncommon. This command wasn’t reserved

just for those returning to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon, but is something that we as Christians

are commanded to be in the New Testament.

The question is this: how do we “be holy”? Do we just try really hard to behave better? As we

read on in our Ezra and Nehemiah series we will find out that trying harder can’t be the answer,

because no matter how hard these people tried to live up to the impossibly high standard of

God’s holiness, they fell short every single time. However, we find out as we turn the pages of

our Bible to the New Testament that there was one man, Jesus, who lived a sinless life, gave His

life on our behalf, and now the same Spirit that raised Him from the dead lives inside of us. What

does all of that mean? It means that our becoming holy is a result not of our best efforts but of

the Holy Spirit making us more like Jesus as we walk with Him day after day, month after

month, and year after year.

Question:

What is one area in your life that you need to ask the Holy Spirit to make you more

like Jesus?