Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Confession Leading to Repentance" by Scott and Sherry Sherwood for Thursday, 10 November 2016 with Scripture: Ezra 10:1-12

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Confession Leading to Repentance" by Scott and Sherry Sherwood for Thursday, 10 November 2016 with Scripture: Ezra 10:1-12
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"Confessions Leading to Repentance" by Scott and Sherry Sherwood
Ezra 10:1 While ‘Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and prostrated before the house of God, a huge crowd of Isra’el’s men, women and children gathered around him; and the people were weeping bitterly. 2 Sh’khanyah the son of Yechi’el, one of the descendants of ‘Eilam, spoke up and said to ‘Ezra, “We have acted treacherously toward our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples of the land. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Isra’el. 3 We should make a covenant with our God to send away all these wives, along with their children, in obedience to the advice of Adonai and of those who tremble at the mitzvah of our God; let us act in accordance with the Torah. 4 Stand up, and do your duty, for we are with you; take courage, and do it!”
5 ‘Ezra stood up, and he made the chief cohanim, the L’vi’im and all Isra’el swear that they would act according to what had been said; and they took the oath. 6 ‘Ezra then left his place in front of the house of God and went to the room of Y’hochanan the son of Elyashiv. After going there, he neither ate food nor drank water; because he was mourning over the treachery of the exiles.
7 A proclamation was issued throughout Y’hudah and Yerushalayim that all the exiles were to assemble in Yerushalayim; 8 and that whoever didn’t come within three days, in answer to the summons from the officials and leaders, would forfeit all he owned and himself be banished from the community of the exiles. 9 All the men of Y’hudah and Binyamin assembled in Yerushalayim within the three days. It was the twentieth day of the ninth month. All the people sat in the open place in front of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. 10 ‘Ezra the cohen stood up and addressed them: “You have acted treacherously by marrying foreign women and have thus increased Isra’el’s guilt. 11 Now, therefore, make confession to Adonai, the God of your ancestors; and do what will please him by separating yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women.” 12 In response, the whole assembly cried aloud, “Yes, our duty is to do as you have said.
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When Ezra arrived in Jerusalem, he found that the Israelites had done exactly what God told them not to do–they had married women from other nations who served false gods. Ezra could have washed his hands of all this sin and stood back in self-righteousness, for he had not disobeyed God. Instead, he tore his clothes, fell to his knees, and lifted his hands to the Lord in prayer.
Ezra led his nation and his people in confession of their sins. He took the sins of the nation on himself, taking responsibility for their sins and stepping into God’s presence in repentance of such sin, even though he himself had not disobeyed God in this way.
If we sin as individuals, we go before God humbly asking for His forgiveness. We sin as a family or as a church or as a group of people, and we humbly pray for mercy. We sin as a nation, and the appropriate thing to do is still to humble ourselves, fall on our knees in mourning, and beg the Almighty God of justice to have compassion on us and forgive us as a nation. Oh God, hear our prayers!
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Hymn for Today: "Brethren, We Have Met to Worship" by George Atkins
1. Brethren, we have met to worship
And adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power,
While we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit
Of the Holy One comes down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna
Will be showered all around.
2. Brethren, see poor sinners round you
Slumb'ring on the brink of woe;
Death is coming, hell is moving,
Can you bear to let them go?
See our fathers and our mothers,
And our children sinking down;
Brethren, pray and holy manna
Will be showered all around.
3. Sisters, will you join and help us?
Moses' sister aided him;
Will you help the trembling mourners
Who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Savior,
Tell them that He will be found;
Sisters, pray, and holy manna
Will be showered all around.
4. Let us love our God supremely,
Let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners,
Till our God makes all things new.
Then He'll call us home to heaven,
At His table we'll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself, and serve us
With sweet manna all around.
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Thought for Today: 2 Chronicles 7:14 then, if my people, who bear my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.
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Please Pray: Please pray for the new believers from the JESUS film showings as they are discipled by local churches in Mesoamerica.
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