The Book for the Journey

“For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel...‘And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach’” (Ezra 7:9,10,25; cf. Exodus 18:17-23; Matthew 28:18-20; Titus 1:4-9).

In John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” Christian journeys from the City of Destruction (the land of his birth) to the Celestial City, carrying the Book all the Way. “...there are such things to be had which I spoke of, and many more glories besides. If you believe not me, read here in this Book, and for the truth of what is expressed therein, behold, all is confirmed by the blood of Him that made it...it was made by Him that cannot lie.” In Interpreter’s House he saw the portrait of another man who journeyed home with the Book: “It had eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, the Law of truth was written upon its lips, the world was behind its back; it stood as if it pleaded with men...”

Lord, may Your Book be the sole weight we carry on the journey Home. Give us hearts dedicated to learning it, living it, and teaching it to others on the Way. Bring us Home by Your Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our only Savior and Lord. Bring us Home by the Word You write in our hearts through Your Holy Spirit. Raise up others to walk with us in the Word on the Way. Bring us Home. Amen and amen.

God's Chief Building Material

“And the elders of the Jews were successful in building through the prophesying of...Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they finished building according to the command of the God of Israel” (Ezra 6:14).

The key building material is found at the heart of Zechariah’s prophecy: truth.

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth...they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth...these are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another...love truth’” (Zechariah 8:3,8,16,19).

God’s main building material for Jerusalem after the Babylonian Exile is still the main building material for the Church in the New Covenant: “...I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

Beloved Church, build on the absolute, timeless, and infinitely valuable truth of the Word of God!