study and teach

 Today in the One YEar Bible, we read from Ezra 7:1-8:20. We finally, after six long chapters, meet Ezra, whom the book is named after. Ezra is succeeding in everything he does, because according to the passage we read today, "the hand of the LORD his God was on him." 

And the reason that His hand was on him was because, "Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel." Ezra lived in a time when learning to read was more difficult than it is now. Where not everyone had access to books or the ability to become a scholar. 

Today is different. Everyone in our country (and throughout most of the world) has the opportunity to learn to read. And we all have access to the Bible in multiple translations, along with study guides to help us understand it. We have resources that Ezra would have loved to have. 

So if you want "the hand of the LORD your God" to be on you, and to give success to all you do, you might consider determining to "study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations" to your people. It doesn't mean necessarily getting a degree and teaching in a school. It could be as simple as picking up your Bible every day and reading it, using resources to look up the meaning if you don't understand it... and then when the opportunity presents itself (and you'll be amazed how often it does!), share what you've learned with the people in your life.

I'm often shocked how the Bible reading for the day will so often apply DIRECTLY to a situation in my life the same day - someone will ask me a question and my Bible reading from THAT DAY will answer their question. 

It's almost like God planned it that way.

God, thanks for giving us the Bible - help us to learn it and to teach it.