31 July 2009 Devotion for Today “Together As One Man” Ezra 3:1-4

31 July 2009 Devotion for Today “Together As One Man” Ezra 3:1-4

1 And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak[a] and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings. 4 They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day.” (Ezra 3:1-4)

As I read this passage, I am impressed b y the unity of the people as they reinstitute the sacrificial system and the burnt offerings. In this Scripture, we see a prescription for so much sought after unity. The phrase “the people gathered together as one man” says much more than we realize.
First- their priorities were right on target. Before they had built their homes and places of business, they focused on the God who had given them that land, and the One who had brought them back to it. Even though the people feared the hostility of the pagans whom they were displacing, they resisted the urge to fortify themselves until they had set up the altar of God. Their foremost desire was to glorify God and not themselves.

Second- they had godly, spiritual men as leaders of the people. We must not overlook this when it comes to unity- in fact it is essential. The notable men who led Israel from Babylonian captivity were focused not on themselves, but upon rebuilding a nation with God’s help, with a deep love desire to serve the people under their care. There is clearly no substitute for this, whether in the church or in any organization where unity is crucial for its survival. Show me a group of unspiritual and selfish leaders, and I will show you a fragmented organization and a people writhing in a quagmire of discontent. It is not enough to desire unity or even to strive for it. Take this from someone whose ideas have been voted more down than up: as leaders, unity must begin with ourselves. There will always be differences of opinion and a whole host of ideas that will be sound. But the strength of our ideas lays only in our desire to be able to sacrifice them in humility for the greater good of all concerned.

There is a wonderful quote that is attributed to St. Augustine that says: "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” Of all organizations, the Church of Jesus Christ must strive for this in all that we do- for this is the first glimpse of our witness to the world. Like Israel, we must stand together as one man. If we have trouble here, and are feeling put out or unhappy where God has placed us we might consider asking ourselves: 1) Does my desire for such and such contribute to the unity and the greater good of the whole body of which I am a part? 2) Have I prayed about this matter to the point that I would be willing to sacrifice it to the will of Jesus Christ and; 3) Will the concern that I have matter five or ten years from now?
May God give you the grace to bring peace and unity into the situations you find yourself today to bring honor and glory to Him.

Prayer: Father, everywhere around me there seems to be turmoil and discontent. Everyone is looking for unity, but distrust and disorganization is rampant. Since You have shown this to me, it is clear that it is not enough for me to complain about it. Give me the desire to follow the leaders over me and to cooperate with them joyfully. If there are no such leaders, then give me the humility and the grace to be one of them myself, one who strives to get things done, but to glorify you in the joy of unity and in the peace for which helps my group to thrive. May the focus I give You today cause others to want to follow my example. In Jesus Name, Amen.