I AM DETERMINED!

 

Favorite Verse Day #5

I am determined!

I remember a song, 

"I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, NO Turning back no turning back!" I have realized there are a number of different versions of the following verses, but they usually include: "Though none go with me, STILL I will follow," "My Cross I carry, 'til I see Jesus." and, "The world behind me, the cross before me."

This song has a powerful story behind it and the determination to follow JESUS no matter what. 

I thought of this song as I was reading my next FAVORITE VERSE:

"Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August of that year. He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the firsts day of the new year, and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel." (Ezra 7:8-10, NLT)

I had a great man of God mentor me on a regular basis for many years while I was going through my Masters program at Indiana Wesleyan Seminary. This man was a good friend and coworker in the faith. We spent a lot of time together and just writing this today, prompts me to want to call him and talk to him. I miss our times together. 

He is the reason for this being one of my favorite verses. He challenged me to memorize this scripture. 

I often focus on a KEY WORD when studying scripture. In this passage the word DETERMINED grabs me. When I think of being determined I think of someone who is STUBBORN, someone who won't yield! Many times, that would be an accurate description of me. 

Like EZRA I am fully DETERMINED to STUDY, OBEY, and TEACH God's Word. 

I have DECIDED to STUDY, OBEY, and TEACH God's word and when I decide something there is no turning back. 

When I taught math, I thought it was an important skill for people to learn. Since I was teaching math, I spent crazy amounts of time getting good at MATH and perfecting my craft of TEACHING MATH. I was determined to make life easier on my students both while they were in my class and after they graduated. 

Math skills make life easier. I truly believe that. 

BUT NOW, teaching God's Word goes way beyond the value of having a life skill like Math. LEARNING, APPLYING, and TEACHING God's Word and helping others do the same has an impact way beyond this short life on earth, it has eternal consequences. I can imagine EZRA thought the same thing. 

I want to TEACH GOD's WORD and I want to TEACH other people to TEACH God's Word. That's the essence of DISCIPLE-MAKING. Ezra had it right before he even knew he had it right!