How to please God

Ezra was a great man of God and had been given an enormous amount of treasure and goods from King Artaxerxes for use and provision of the new temple to be built in Jerusalem.  The king knew that Jerusalem was a long journey from Babylon and offered Ezra a military escort for his protection on the trip.  But Ezra made a bold statement of faith in God and told the king:

"The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him."

Ezra 8:22b

Essentially he told the king, thanks but no thanks, God has my back.

But as the trip progressed something happened, something that the bible doesn’t reveal but something caused Ezra to fear for his safety, those around him and the goods he carried with him.

As Christians we often find ourselves in a place or time in life that we too make bold statements of faith.  During a time of spiritual renewal or great fellowship with others, we find the strength to lean fully on the finished work of Christ and feel charged to take all from life that God and a relationship with him promises.  But then something happens, something thats different for all of us, but something happens to shake our faith.  The world throws us a curve ball that causes us to rethink everything.

We find ourselves in a place where the very real problems we see in front of us, seem too large to be overcome by faith and a God we can’t see so clearly at the time.  We find ourselves at a cross road of faith much like Ezra was facing.

We have an excellent example of what to do provided for us from Ezra in his response to a similar set of circumstances, when he needed reassurances from God.  The threat of robbers and bandits was real; the need for protection couldn’t be overlooked, but Ezra sought to overcome his and his men’s fears in another way:

So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

Ezra 8:23

They put their faith into action and ask God for the strength to believe and trust in His provision.  Biblical Commentator, John Trapp said, “They put their holy resolution into execution: purpose without practice is like Rachel, beautiful but barren.”  

The book of Hebrews tells us without faith that it isn’t possible to please God.  And our faith can’t be strengthened if we don’t put it to the test when it seems like the last thing that we should do, trust God.  And God listened to the prayers and plea from Ezra and his men and He will listen to you as well.  Take a leap of faith today and place your trust in that area that seems to be impossible on your own.  Faith is strengthened by God providing for you when no one else will.  God is waiting to provide an answer to your prayer right now if you will only place your trust in Him.

Peace my friends,

Jeff