DEVOTION: HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THIS? By Pastor Shadrack Ruto
Ezra continued in his prayer to God concerning the sins of the remnant. In this prayer he confesses at least four things.
Here is the first admission.
From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today. Ezra 9:7
Secondly, he admits that God has been gracious to them.
But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.Ezra 9:8-9
Thirdly, Ezra admits they are guilty as a nation.
But now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commands you gave through your servants the prophets when you said: ‘the land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance. Ezra 9:10-12
Fourthly, Ezra confesses that God has not dealt with them, as they deserved; instead, God has been merciful to them.
What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this. Ezra 9:13
Ezra admits that what they have been going through is a consequence of their sins although he is quick to point out that God has not dealt with them as they deserve. He says God has given them less punishment than they deserved.
APPLICATION:
- When God gives us less than what we deserve, then He has been merciful. When David sinned, he pleaded for God’s mercy. He was punished but he got less than what he deserved. David deserved to die but God let him live.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions Psalm 51:1
- Have you experienced God’s mercy in your life? If so what were the circumstances? How did you know that God had mercy on you?
- Have you ever asked yourself why God’s mercies are said to be, “New Every Morning”? I believe this is because we are not perfect. Because of this, we need God’s mercies every day. It is therefore re-assuring to know that His mercies are new every morning.
- The truth is, we are all experiencing God’s mercies daily. If God were to deal with each one of us according to His Holiness, none of us would be here today.
- May be you are experiencing guilt in your life today because of a repeated sin and you feel that God cannot accept you anymore. Just remember this, God’s mercies are new every morning. David committed a sin that deserved death, but when he pleaded for God’s mercy, he was forgiven and allowed to live. Do what David did:
- Admit your sins to God
- Ask God to have mercy on you
- Turn away from your sins. Demonstrate a change of heart toward sin.
What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt,
And yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved
And have given us a remnant like this.
Ezra 9:13
Here is a question for you
HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THIS?
Read: Ezra 9:8-15
Marked: 9:13
By Pastor Shadrack Ruto-pastorrutodevotions@gmail.com
DEVOTION: HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THIS? By Pastor Shadrack Ruto
