A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Today's reading: Ezra 1-4

"Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. And all their neighbors assisted by giving them vessels of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They gave them many choice gifts in addition to all the freewill offerings." Ezra 1:5-6 NLT

Let's get a few facts out of the way here...

Fact #1 The children of God were being held captive in Babylon.

Fact #2 This captivity had lasted 70 years.

Fact #3 God had instructed the Israelites to set up homes, establish communities and continue to worship and serve Him as best they could in hostile territory.

At this point in the book of Ezra, we're in a space in time when the captives were being allowed to return to Jerusalem and the Israelite households were telling their neighbors goodbye.

I'm noticing this...

And I'm applying it to our current situation in regards to being homebound, quarantined and being asked to keep from worshiping corporately...

They chose, despite circumstances, to be good neighbors. How do I know that? If they had been poor neighbors, chances are they wouldn't be loaded down with gifts as they returned to Jerusalem.

They made the decision to 'bloom where they were planted'. What tells me that? Same thing!

It's sure making me think about my attitude, my efforts and my faith during this trying time we're in.

Am I making it more insufferable by what I say and do or am I lifting the spirits of others?

Am I being a good neighbor, even from a safe distance?

Is my 'neighborhood' improved because I live there? Serve God there? Worship from home there?

If I were asked to move to another place, would folks miss me, wish me well and shower me with gifts that would help me minister in the next neighborhood I would settle in?

Ezra has me thinking this morning...