14/10/2025
*DAILY DELIGHT DEVOTIONAL*
United Evangelical Church
TUESDAY 14TH OCTOBER, 2025
*Topic*
*Setting our Lives Right with God*
*Text:* Ezra 10:1-8
10:1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. 10:2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. 10:3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. 10:4 Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it. 10:5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware. 10:6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away. 10:7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; 10:8 And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
*Memory Verse:*
Leviticus 26:40-42
40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 26:41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 26:42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
*Brief Commentary*
Ezra's reverent devotion to God inspired the people of Israel to return to Him. In verse 1, Ezra prayed, confessed, and wept before the temple, which drew a large crowd who joined him in grieving over their sins. In verses 2-4, Shecaniah openly confessed their transgression of intermarrying with foreigners, and he suggested a hard but necessary step: separating from these unlawful unions according to God's counsel. This decision was not easy, yet it demonstrated their commitment to restore righteousness in their lives. We also must back our repentance with action. Where a believer marries an unbeliever, the believing partner is expected through his or her lifestyle to win the spouse for God. Those who are in courtship with unbelievers are expected to sever that relationship in obedience to God. Today, we see fewer examples of such repentance in the church. As leaders and members alike, we are called to take sin seriously, just as Ezra did (v.6) and the people obeyed (vv.7-8), for their true spiritual renewal.
*Declaration:*
*We make a covenant to set our lives right and straight with God so that He may show us mercy*
*Prayer*
Almighty Father help us to stand firm in our decision to serve You in spirit and in truth.
