Ezra 9-10

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Confession

 

Ezra was grieved that a great number of exiles had married foreign women who were rooted in the worship of other gods. He was appalled that the remnant of Judah was mixing the purity of God’s ways with the abominable practices of their foreign wives. Unless drastic measures were taken to separate themselves from the infiltration of those other gods, the exiles would inevitably repeat the sins of their fathers who had rejected the God of Israel for the worship of other gods. And thus, God would reject them. The potential to worship other gods is probably far more prevalent in our societies than we would like to admit. What is our “go-to” when we are stressed? What do we turn to for comfort? What do we turn to for protection? Provision? Happiness? Fulfillment?  Is our “go-to” our God in heaven? Is prayer our first impulse? Are the promises in His word our comfort? We have many gods in our culture that compete with the love of God, with the comfort He offers, with the assurances of His provision and protection. Do we take the measures needed to separate ourselves from the things that separate us from our God? Dear Father, forgive me for turning to “other gods” when I should be turning to You. Help me to see the influences in my life that lead me away from You. Please, let nothing separate me from You. For “whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works (Psalms 73:25:28).