Ezra 5 - The Will, the Courage, and the Power to Continue

Ezra 5:2 (ESV)

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

The purpose of the Book of Ezra is to remind God’s people of God’s faithfulness in restoring them, and to warn them to live as a covenant people of God. God’s people are to be about God’s work, but sometimes we get tired. Sometimes we get discouraged. Sometimes we come to the place where we are just ready to quit. That is the point where we need to stop and look back at the faithfulness of God. We need to remember the power of God’s word, the strength of God’s blessing and the overwhelming goodness of God’s grace.

The power of God's word gives us strength to continue on. The strength of God's blessing gives us courage to continue on. The overwhelming goodness of God's grace gives us reason to continue on. The circumstances surrounding us, the tasks before us, and the failures of the past drain us of strength, courage, and will. Fixing our eyes on God enables us to take courage and move forward, not in our own strength, for we have none, but in the strength of the Almighty who not only saves us, but who sustains us, empowers us, and fills us with him indwelling Holy Spirit. In Christ we have the will, the courage, and the ability to continue.