POLLUTED

Today's reading: Ezra 6-10

"...So the holy race has become polluted..." Ezra 9:2 NLT

The prophet Ezra had a problem.

He was attempting, through God's leading and with God's help, to restore godliness to the Jewish nation.

The nation had endured some tough times, deservedly tough, but tough none the less.

They had been captured, kidnapped, relocated, retrained and now returning back to their homeland.

But their godliness had not remained intact.

As a matter of fact, Ezra was having a hard time even finding enough men to be priests and Levites, or temple workers.

Time away from their country, miles away from their house of worship, circumstances away from their usual routines and generationally instilled religious rules--they had forgotten how to be godly.

They had crossed lines.

They had bent toward other gods.

They had allowed their hearts to be swayed by idols.

But now, now they returned.

And as polluted as they were, God still loved them!

It would be a tough row to hoe, but with God's help the nation would be restored--heart, mind and soul!