Of all the spiritual disciplines available to us as believers, I’ll confess that confession is my least favorite.
Call it the chronic perfectionist in me, but I cannot stand having to face feelings or emotions commonly associated with confession. While I know the promise of freedom that’s on the other side, it’s still hard to honestly face the sin of my pride.
If it’s that difficult for me to do with my own sin, I can’t imagine having to go to the Lord and confess the sins of an entire nation. That’s exactly what Ezra has to do in our reading today—carry this huge weight before God in openness and honesty so he can receive God’s wisdom. And it’s not even Ezra’s sin! Ezra didn’t disobey God’s commands not to marry into neighboring tribes and fall into pagan worship. Ezra’s the guy who wanted to restore true worship and the law of God in the newly rebuilt temple! Yet he’s the one we see devastated before God and distressed that this degree of separation has occurred between God and the people—so much so that he takes it to God as if it were his wrongdoing.
I can’t help but see a little foreshadowing of Jesus here. Jesus, the perfect sacrifice for all sin, committed no wrongdoing and yet was so heartbroken over the sin of humanity that He carried that weight to the cross Himself. We vividly see how painful this brokenness is for Jesus—John’s Gospel tells us that in His final breaths, Jesus cries out to God, asking why He’s been abandoned. That’s how deeply the pain of separation from His Father cut. Ezra had a taste of that sorrow as he watches the Israelites stepping away from God’s law.
In reading this chapter, I’m reminded of how seriously God takes sin. Ezra did not mince words when he honestly stood before God in confession.
We also must carefully navigate the tensions between understanding the damaging effects of separation from God and the enemy’s lies that want to keep my attention trapped inside the shame of sin. The unwavering hope of salvation in Christ promises I am free to follow Jesus, unencumbered by sin’s weight of death and shame.
I love that 1 John 1:9 is paired with today’s reading in Ezra because it helps me focus on the reason Ezra models confession for the people: to grant them the freedom of repentance, of turning back to God—because the promise of forgiveness is always waiting for them.
In Mark 15:34 when Jesus asks God, “…why have you forsaken me,” He’s quoting Psalm 22:1. When you read Psalm 22 in its entirety, although it highlights Jesus’ many struggles at Calvary, it also highlights the victory that would inevitably come post-resurrection. Good stuff!
TERESA DONLEY – ❤
LYNNE FROM ALABAMA – Continued prayers for you and Jack, and as Teresa said, someone to step in and give you a break occasionally. Don’t feel like you have to shoulder this all by yourself! If someone asks how they can help, tell them what you need. Even if you stay in the house while someone sits with him, just getting some personal time would be so beneficial. Ditto to LINDA IN NC and NANCY S! I have so much compassion for each of you because I watched my brother in law care for my sister (as I have mentioned before). ❤
So excited to see She’s joining together for the next few weeks! Like Lynn said, I don’t want to be split up and miss what is going on in your lives!
SEARCHING – I have some study books that I have not done yet. One is The Beatitudes, so I will do that with you. The other is Galatians. I will do that first and it may overlap a bit when we start Beatitudes, but it will workout great!
Today’s Scripture and devotion gave me pause. The way Ezra cried out to God for forgiveness and repentance made me realize that my prayers are lacking. I’m in the habit of just saying something like, “Forgive me Father, for this sin. Help me to stop doing that.” God is looking for a broken and contrite heart. For a heartfelt plea for forgiveness, and true repentance. I pray I can take this lesson to heart and see a radical change in the way I confess, ask for forgiveness, and repent.
LYNN FROM ALABAMA – I am praying for you as you care for Jack 24/7. I pray God will give you strength and energy (both physical and emotional) to be his caregiver. I pray that someone will offer you respite, even just for a few hours, so you can renew your own spirit. I’m lifting Gina to God for her ovarian cancer diagnosis.
RHONDA J – I continue to pray for you as you prepare your lesson for next week’s ministry in the jail. I pray that God will give you peace, wisdom and understanding to prepare this lesson. I’m also praying God will calm your nerves while presenting. Speaking in front of a group can be nerve-wracking. Just remember, you are not alone. Jesus stands with you, and The Holy Spirit will give you the words as you lean on him.
KELLY (NEO), THERESA, RHONDA J, CEE GEE, LYNN FROM ALABAMA, and all who are praying for me — Thank you so much for praying for me. I can feel the peace that God is giving me in the waiting.
HEIDI – ❤️ So good to see you. I knew that you had stepped out for a few weeks, so I copied your idea from the last grace weeks :) thank you for the original idea!
RHONDA J – I was going to post at least once more but will take your advice and post each of our last 3 days of this study. Hopefully our sisters that would be interested will see it & join us. Thanks!