Ezra sought God’s will with all his heart, to live out God’s word in his own life, so that he could teach others.

Sixty years after the Exiles finished rebuilding the temple, God calls Ezra to return to Jerusalem from Babylon to teach the Israelites God’s statutes.    Ezra, Ch 7 vs 6, tells us that Ezra was a “scribe skilled in the Law of Moses” and that the “hand of the Lord his God was on him”. We also learn in verses 1-5 that Ezra was a descendant of the chief priest Aaron (yes, the first one with Moses) and Seraiah, who was the last chief priest before the captivity and exile.   This information is important in the context of the story of Ezra and the OT culture; the Israelites would have received Ezra with high regard.    As impressive as his genealogy is, the most impressive thing about Ezra is given to us in verse 10:

“For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”

Ezra wasn’t just a descendant of priests and learned secondhand knowledge from his dad, or his grandpa, Ezra was a STUDENT of God’s word.  Not just a student. An avid seeker.  He frequented God’s word, he consulted God’s word, he sought God’s word with fervor and sought to apply it.   

What Ezra does in this one verse is set a threefold INTENTION that is essential to anyone who wants to make an impact on others with the word of God. 

Let’s break it down:

For Ezra had set – Hebrew word – verb   —   kûn 

• to apply one’s mind to do something;
• to purpose seriously

his heart –  Hebrew word – noun/object —  lebab

• the seat of senses, affections & emotions of the mind;
• it is applied to the mode of thinking and acting

Ezra seriously purposed his senses, his affections, his emotions, his entire mode of thinking and acting to –>

to study – Hebrew word – verb — daras

• to resort to, to frequent, to consult, enquire, seek with application
• to allow one’s self to be approached, to give access, to hear and answer

What did Ezra seek?  The Law of the Lord.    The verb daras is applied to God’s word.

Ezra seriously purposed his senses, his affections, his emotions, his entire mode of thinking and acting to resort to, consult, enquire of and be accessible to the word of God and be affected by the word of God and he answered the word of God accordingly.

Why did Ezra set his heart to study?   TO DO IT.  TO TAKE ACTION

Ezra’s first goal of submitting himself to the word of God was for he himself to be first and foremost submitted to the word of God.  He dedicated himself to studying God so he could do what God commanded.  Ezra studied God’s word so he could live it out.   We absolutely cannot live out a truth we do not know.  We cannot live a life worthy of our calling (Colossians 1:10) if we do not set our hearts on God’s word.    We cannot be hearers of the word only. We must be doers.

{22} But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. {23} For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. {24} For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. {25} But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. [Jas 1:22-25 ESV]

When we devote ourselves to God’s word, allow ourselves to be approached by the Holy Spirit, and we answer the call, the conviction, the command, we are transformed from the inside out.  According to James, when we become doers of God’s word, we are blessed in our doing.

So Ezra, set his heart on God’s word in order to be obedient. The verse then tells us that in this obedience he is going to teach in Israel [God’s] statutes and judgments.    It’s the great commission.  

 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations [] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”  [Matthew 6:19-20]

Ezra seriously purposed his senses, his affections, his emotions, his entire mode of thinking and acting to resort to, consult, enquire of and be accessible to the word of God and be affected by the word of God and he answered the word of God accordingly in his own life in order to teach others.

Ezra sought God’s will with all his heart, in order to live out God’s word in his own life (testimony, pocket that), so that he could teach others.

Mommas, what does this have to do with us?

As mothers our primary mission field is our home. It is our children.  Mommas, to have the full impact on our children we must follow Ezra’s approach. 

1. Diligently seek after God.  Diligently seek his fellowship. Diligently seek his word.

2. You have to do it.  You must be a doer of the word. This means surrendering to the word of God in all aspects of your life. This surrender is your living testimony to the authority of Christ in your life.  Even the hard parts.   Especially the hard parts!!!  1 Peter 2:17, giving honor to the emperor, that means we do not badmouth our President (or any other government official) even if you do not like him.  God ordained that position and we will show that position the respect it is due as God commands us to.   You cannot bad mouth the other mother you do not like. You cannot speak ill of your husband.    Children can sniff out a fake faster than you can imagine.  Not only children, but also anyone else you witness to.  As Christians, as professing believers, we must walk the walk and give no room for someone to speak ill of us. (Titus 2:8)

3. You must diligently teach your children.  What we learn in the seeking and doing must be put into effect through teaching. Not only our children, but also others around us.   Our commission is TO TEACH.

Mommas, you CANNOT TEACH WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW.    If you are not surrendered to Christ’s authority in your life, you cannot teach it.  If you are not diligently seeking God each day and know what God says, you cannot hear him, you cannot act, and you cannot teach.  It starts with Step 1.  

Applications:

You must dedicate time to God and be in his word every day.  There is absolutely no alternative to reading Gods word for yourself and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach you.  Whether you get up 30 minutes earlier, stay up later, take your lunch break at your desk at work, whatever it is, you must spend time daily, one on one with God.

Not only must you spend time with God, you must enter humbly. Willing to change, willing to be corrected, willing to act, willing to respond.   Like Ezra set  your whole being to being available to Christ. Present yourself to God as a living sacrifice  and allow the word of God to renew your mind (Romans 12:1-2)

Surround yourself with Godly women. Community is important. Like minded believers to encourage you and hold you accountable is important.  Authentic community where you are transparent and vulnerable is important.  We are not made to travel this road alone, but hand in hand with others as we endure to the finish line to enter Heaven. 

 Studying the bible with others is important.  Being able to discuss God’s word allows thoughts to be fleshed out, lies or misconceptions to be corrected, and encourages growth.   If your church does not have a women’s bible study, please consider Bible Study Fellowship. This is a free bible study that runs September (ish) through early May.  And it’s free.  You can go in person or online.    Check out it here.

This takes prayer, humility and submission.  As you study God’s word, pray that the Spirit would convict you deeply where you need correction.  Ask the Spirit to physically make you ill when you begin to step out of line in an area you are convicted about. 

I will admit to you, I struggle with mom anger. I am short tempered. I can give you every excuse I want.  Red hair, Irish, tired, three crazy kids… BUT, here is the reality.  I am not called to be angry. I am called to be slow to anger, quick to listen. Quick to forgive. I am called to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him; bearing fruit in every good work”.   When I yell at my children before listening to what happened, I am not walking in a manner worthy of the Lord.  When I get frustrated with my husband because I perceive a change in plans as a personal attack against me before getting the full story, I am not walking in a manner worthy of the Lord. When I get angry at the car that pulled out in front of me, I am not walking in a manner worthy of the Lord.  These actions of mine are not pleasing.

When I am convicted of something, I pray that God would convict me in a manner that physically makes me ill so that I cannot ignore it.   

 My prayer is this:
God, thank you for convicting me of (insert sinful nature). Father, as I begin to act or utter a word that contradicts your word, that is unworthy of you, or that does not please you, convict me so strongly that it makes my stomach turn. Thank you for loving me enough not to leave me in my sin but for being faithful to complete your work in me, making me more like Christ.

I promise you, God will be faithful to do this. He convicts me. It makes my stomach turn.  I will also admit, I sometimes (probably more than I should) lash out anyway, and when I do, my stomach really turns.  I am washed with immediate guilt, and I immediately repent.   Here is the good news.  He lovingly forgives me, and then He lovingly convicts me again when the situation arises again.  As he continues to convict me, and I begin surrendering my flesh to his conviction, I begin to change. My mind starts to renew. I slowly stop resorting to anger as a first response and replace it with patience, compassion and prayer.   I am not perfect, but my deep desire above all things is to surrender my life to God’s word. That is where the blessings are.  That is where true life is lived.  

So pray for conviction. Act with conviction.

Ahhh… our favorite verse (especially for us homeschool moms)   Deuteronomy 6:5-9

{5} And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. {6} And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: {7} And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. {8} And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. {9} And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. [Deu 6:5-9 KJV emphasis added]

What does this look like?  It’s a million different ways.  Some are the same for every family, many are different.  But the intentionality and the doing must be there for all.   

For ALL families;

 I strongly believe every family should have –> Family Worship.   This is actually biblical.  Read the OT, you will notice that there are no churches.  There isn’t even a tent to worship God in until the Israelites came out of Egypt.  But Isaac knew how to worship God. Noah knew how to worship God. Joseph knew how to worship God.  Who taught them?  Their parents.  They worshiped as a family.   This is a simple routine of 10-15 minutes a day when they are younger, and can grow into deeper study as your children grow. For our family it consists of my husband reading the bible, short prayer and I love to sing songs with my kids.

If you would like a quick read and amazing resource about what that looks like I highly recommend Family Worship by Donald S. Whitney.  _{I read this book to my husband out loud while we were on a road trip before he was a believer. He put some of the practical steps outlined into practice in our home.  (I believe this is one of the crucial things that led my husband to Christ, but that’s a story for another day)}

Speaking of Churches –> Every family should have a home church. Corporate worship is biblical.  I used to argue with my husband before he got saved… I don’t go to “church” to be a Christian, I go to “church” because I am a Christian.  There is this movement that says because God is everywhere, and the people are the church,  I don’t have to go to church. I can have church wherever.     Which, while it is true that God is everywhere, and the church is not a building, but is comprised of believers,  that saying is a twisted truth from Satan himself.    He has taken two truths and thrown in a lie, and because that lie was preceded by two truths, many people believe the third statement is true.  It is not.   You are called to be in corporate worship with other believers on a regular basis.  You are also called to serve in that corporate space and to give generously to that corporate space and to utilize the gifts that God gave you to further the kingdom of God.   You are called to prioritize sitting under the teaching of someone, being in community with believers, and serving in the church.  If you don’t believe me, please read Acts Ch. 2.

You, as the mother of your children, be obedient to the word of God and take your children to church. It should be a priority. You should serve in the church and have your children serve alongside you. SHOW THEM THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS obedience to Christ.  You and your children will reap enormous blessings by serving others.

 Family Dinner –> A minimum of one evening meal at home as a family every week with ZERO distractions. NO PHONES.   Make it a set date every single week.   Put it in sharpie on your calendar.  Time and time and time again you will see that the breaking of bread, the sitting at a table and enjoying  a meal with someone is the best way to have a conversation.  Jesus broke bread with his apostles, he broke bread with Zacchaeus, he broke bread with sinners, he broke bread with Pharisees. He had intimate conversations with them.  Dinner conversations with your children are imperative. Around the kitchen table we build community, strengthen family bonds, and grow in love and faith. Jesus reminds us that eating together is an important part of our social lives and our faith lives, especially when we begin with a blessing and give thanks to God at the outset.  DO IT.  You will never regret the time you had with your family eating dinner and talking about Jesus.

Our family has Friday Family Dinner every week.   Fun fact, my husband is Jewish by birth and this is our Christian version of Shabbat.   This started 4 or 5 years ago, and I cannot tell you the blessing it has been.  This dinner is attended by my husband’s brothers, their wives, their daughters, their friends, their boyfriends (come and go), my husbands’ ex-wife, my bonus daughters, their college roommates, their friends, the list goes on and on.   This dinner has allowed our family to share the gospel with our children and their friends. It has allowed my children to witness hospitality.  This dinner is so looked forward to by the young adults in our family. They look forward to it every time they come home from college, or as one niece lives in Connecticut now, when she comes home.   The conversations that have been had concerning the gospel during these dinners have changed our family.  

What works for OUR family:  This is what our family does currently in this phase of life with a 5, 4 and 2 year old.

We homeschool therefore incorporate bible study as a part of our lesson plan. We utilize Christian education resources. My children and I attend Bible Study Fellowship.   Our entire family attends church regularly.  We are members of a community group at our church. My children are involved with serving at the church when I serve.   My children assist me in cooking for the meal trains at our church. I take them with me when I drop off food to others.    My husband reads the bible to our children most nights of the week.  (We are not perfect, but there is effort).  We have Friday Family Dinner.  We pray with our children

Here is the deal mommas, go back to Deuteronomy 6:7, You shall teach them diligently, when you sit, when you walk, when you lie down, when you rise…  The key is this.  You teach your kids as you do.   Doing dishes?  Have them help you and discuss how doing dishes is a way for you to serve your family.   Making dinner for guests?  Have them help you and discuss how Jesus tells us to share what we have and be hospitable.   Working?  Tell your kids about your job and how we do everything, including our job, to the best of our ability in order to honor God and bring him glory.   Reading your bible?  Invite them to sit in your lap and discuss how it is God’s word that teaches us truth.   Praying?  Invite them to pray with you.  Paying bills?  Teach them to pay bills and how paying our bills timely glorifies God, and maybe teach them how to be a good steward of our funds.    

Teaching our kids diligently means in all that we do.  We are intentional about teaching them and we incorporate God and his word in all that we do. 

I want to quickly draw your attention to Deuteronomy 6:20-25 – In these verses the child asks the father “What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you”.   Scripture goes on to say that the Father shall say in response to the son (he is commanded to do something here)… and that is give TESTIMONY to what God has done in their life.   In this scripture passage it is the recounting of the Israelites being taken out of Egypt.    For us, our testimony should be shared with our children.   We should teach our children the goodness of God by sharing our testimony with them.   We should teach our children the goodness of God by recounting the ways he has provided for us, he has saved us, he has forgiven us, he has helped us, he has guided us, he has loved us, he has nurtured us, he has sheltered us…. Teach your children the goodness of God by always pointing them back to God.    Seek. Do. Teach.

Mommas, we should be so encouraged by Ezra.   I am so thankful that God saw it fit to leave us yet another tangible example.  (Jesus is the ultimate example am I right).  We should be even more thankful that on this side of the cross we have the Holy Spirit, the great helper!   We have the complete revelation of Jesus Christ and God’s entire word to us.   God has equipped each one of us to be able to Seek, Do, Teach. 

  James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask God, WHO GIVES GENEROUSLY to all without reproach, and it will be given to him. 

God loves us. There is no fear of asking God for wisdom when we approach the throne and open his word.  He promises to give it to us generously!!!  We should excitedly open our bible expectantly asking God’s wisdom to be given to us.  What joy!   My other favorite verse,

Psalm 119:125, I am your servant, give me understanding that I may know your testimonies.   

Humbly approach God, knowing we cannot fathom his greatness, but he lovingly gives us wisdom.

Mommas, he called you to motherhood.  Not to do it on your own.  Not to even try to do it on your own.  But to surrender to Him.  To lean on Him.  He wants to guide us through this journey. He wants to transform our minds and our hearts while we raise the next generation.  He is faithful to be there with you.  We just need to lean in.   We have to seek him.

I also want to remind you this is not some legalistic approach. You do not have to be a bible scholar to teach your children about Jesus.  You have to be willing to be obedient.  If you just met Jesus (first, YAY!!), learn about Jesus with your children.  Read the bible with your kids. Do it together.   God’s sufficient grace and mercy are what drive and enable us in motherhood.  

I hope this doesn’t frighten you.  It shouldn’t. I am passionate about God’s word and his promises.  Why is that? Because I have lived them.  I am living them.  I didn’t know how to study my bible when I started, but God met me there.  I came humbly before Him, desperate to meet Him.  I poured out my heart and admitted my need for him and my need to be transformed by His word, and He did it!    I promise you He will do the same for you. 

Confidently and humbly seek God today.  Open-handed. Willing to surrender.  He will embrace you. He will change you, and you will never look back.    Go raise some arrows mommas!

Love in Christ,

Jamie Leanne