Day 260

“Think of—
Stepping on shore, and finding it Heaven!
Of taking hold of a hand, and finding it God’s hand.
Of breathing a new air, and finding it celestial air.
Of feeling invigorated, and finding it immortality.
Of passing from storm and tempest to an unknown calm.
Of waking up, and finding it Home.”                          --Hazel Felleman

         This week’s passages describe a period after the exiles have returned home.  Interestingly, Christians today are also referred to as exiles, strangers, aliens and sojourners.  Heb. 11:13, “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”  Like the Israelites, we will one day complete our days of travel and return home.

Ezra 9-10; Nehemiah 1-2.  “Thinking of Home”

         From the chapters in Ezra we read that he wept.  From the chapters in Nehemiah we read that he also wept.  It was not just Ezra and Nehemiah that wept but the people as well.  Ezra and the people wept over their sins.  Nehemiah wept over the trouble and condition of Jerusalem.  All of these prayers were due to an emotional connection they had with their home.  And more than their home, Israel was also that spiritual connection with God: A spiritually healthy Israel meant a spiritually healthy relationship with God.  Ezra, Nehemiah and the people wanted everything about their home to be just right and everything about their relationship with the Father of that home to be just right.
         Fellow believer, because of Christ you have a clear title to a bit of property.  Perhaps you’ve had it for a few years.  You have to walk through a valley of deep shadow before you arrive there, but when you do…  How does the way you live now display your anticipation of arriving home and seeing your Father?

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?