ezra-4-3-500sq

But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.” -Ezra 4:3

We don’t just travel through this world, carrying His light. We also aim to build. We build bridges in His name. Everything we do is to build up His name.

And through it all, the world and its ruler will oppose us, to discourage us…to discredit us…to sow the seeds of doubt and discord. And if you are open to the world about your walk, when you stumble…oh, will you get it! Even from other believers!

But our journey, and our labors to build while on the journey, require spiritual endurance.

In the Book of Ezra, Zerubbabel (in chapters 1-6) and Ezra (in chapters 7-10) do their part in bringing people into fellowship with the Lord. Under Zerubbabel, the Jews faced fierce opposition in many forms as they sought to build the temple God commissioned them to complete. Decades later, Ezra came and helped to rebuild the spiritual fellowship of God and His people, who had again gone against God’s decree (not to intermingle with other tribes) and followed their flesh.

Whether the challenges are internal or external, we must focus on the Lord and His word, which makes enduring and persevering so much easier. It’s when we don’t that we fall prey to influences that will derail us from His plans for us.

Fellow traveler, we can build each other up, pray up our burdens to the Lord to run the race light, and keep our focus on Him always. In doing so, we will continue to travel and build in His name, and we will continue to step along the glorious, victorious path He lays before us, one step at a time.

Today’s soundtrack

Third Day’s “Lift Up Your Face” reminds us to keep our eyes on Him, through anything we face in this world.