OUR DAILY BREAD : AS IT IS WRITEN

[cimi]

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19


AS IT IS WRITTEN

READ:
Ezra 3:2 NKJV
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[They] built the
altar...to offer
burnt offerings on
it, as it is written.
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When it comes to putting things together__electronics, furniture, and the like__my son and I have differing approaches. Steve is more mechanically inclined, so he tends to toss the instructions aside and just start in. Meanwhile, I'm poring over the "Read This Before Starting" warning while he has already put the thing halfway together.

Sometimes we can get by without the instructions. But when it comes to putting together a life that reflects the goodness and wisdom of God, we can't afford to ignore the directions He's given to us in the Bible.

The Israelites who had returned to their land after the Babylonian captivity are a good example of this. As they began to reestablish worship in their homeland, they prepared to do so Babylonian captivity are a good example of this. As they began to reestablish worship in their homeland, they prepared to do so "in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses" (EZRA 3:2). By building a proper altar and in celebrating the feast of Tabernacles as prescribed by god in Leviticus 23:33-43, they did exactly what God's directions told them to do.

Christ gave His followers some directions too. He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." And ""love your neighbor as yourself" (MATT 22-37,39). When we believe in Him and come to Him, He shows us the way to live. The One who made us knows far better than we do how life is supposed to work. _____Dave Brannon

**Remind us, Lord, as we start each day that You have already shown us by
Your examples how to live. Help us to read Your Word and follow the
directions You so graciously provide for us.
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If we want God to lead us, we must be willing to follow Him.

********************************Today's Bible Reading __ EZRA 3:1-6******************************************
1 When the seventh month came and the Israelites had
settled in their towns, the people assembled together
as one in Jerusalem. 2 Then Joshua son of Jozadak and
his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and
his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel
to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what
is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 Despite
their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar
on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the
LORD, both the morning and evening sacrifices. 4 Then in
accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Festival
of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings
prescribed for each day. 5 After that, they presented the
regular burnt offerings, the New Moon sacrifices and the
sacrifices for all the appointed sacred festivals of the LORD, as
well as those brought as freewill offerings to the LORD. 6 On
the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt
offerings to the LORD, though the foundation of the LORD's
temple had not yet been laid.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Twice in today's passage Ezra records that
the people returning from exile did things "in accordance with
what is written" (vv. 2,4). However, what makes these statements
impressive is what is found in the middle of the paragraph.
They did all these things "despite their fear of the peoples
around them" __the residents of Judah who were not part of the
returning exiles (v.3). __J.R. Hudberg