A Model for Christian Living

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.

Ezra 7:10 ESV

This was the verse God used to set the direction for my life many years ago.

Study. Do. Teach.

It was a warm summer day and I sat in the sandy shallows of the Missouri River, begging to hear from God.

Cool water washed over my feet as I read my favorite books in the world, Ezra and Nehemiah. But it wasn’t until chapter seven, verse ten that those words had life and fire breathed into them.

I am sure, though, that while God spoke to me in a special way that morning, those three words form a larger model for following Jesus.

See, there’s a natural flow in a believer’s life starting from salvation.

When God saves us we are awakened to His majesty and Jesus’ beautiful grace, this draws us to Him.

We’re given a deeper desire to really know Him rather than simply knowing about him.

We are lovingly convicted of sinful patterns in our lives and repent; that is literally to turn around and go the other way.

The evangelist’s fire also forms in our belly to tell everyone of the transformation in our hearts, minds and lives!

This flow, which Ezra stated so wonderfully, is meant to shape our entire lives: we should “set [our] hearts to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel”.

Devote yourself today to studying the Bible, living out its truth and teaching others to do the same.

Devotion by Jordan Loftis, author of The Men With Bare Feet and host of the Bible Better podcast.