|
Dear BAGBR Churches,
Ezra 9:3-5 "When I heard this
report, I tore my tunic...At evening
offerings, I got up..."
Ezra had received a disturbing report about
the exiles intermarrying with unbelievers in
Persia, and the leadership was taking the
lead in this! How did Ezra respond?
Immediately he got on Facebook, sent mass
text messages, posted on Instagram and
Twitter and blasted away...? Well that is
how many handle things; we are too quick to
talk to others, talk about others, and not
talk to God.
Ezra's reaction is a tutorial for us all.
When we hear things that indeed should cause
us to be upset, we need to express our
frustration and brokenness to God—there
should be an ownership of the problem and a
responsibility that we accept before we seek
to blame, shame, and blab! Be quick to hear
and slow to Speak. Ezra delayed an
entire day before he sent out his first
"text message!" I think that too often we
think we must say something first, so that
people will know how important, smart, and
right we are...really? Sometimes those who
are too quick-triggered reveal just the
opposite.
Before we speak-SEEK the LORD! Before
we blame, accuse, and or condemn we should
repent, weep and take a LONG look in the
mirror. Saying nothing is the most
appropriate thing to say until we know what
is the right "something" to be said.
Ezra's full day delay allowed him to WEIGH
out his heart attitude before God, change
his tone, think about his words, so that
when he spoke, he was heard and heeded.
SEEK, WAIT, WEIGH, THEN SPEAK (maybe)!
In Christ,
Tommy G. Middleton
< Read
more about Dr. Middleton >
|
