Christian Living

THIS MATTER IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

by Chi Onwuchekwa
11/08/18
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“Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.”                                                        Ezra 10:4

Welcome to this edition of the Revive Journal.

The book of Ezra chapters 9 and 10 gives the account of how the exiles, on their return to Jerusalem, dealt with the issue of the inter-marriages that took place while they were exiles – an act they knew was clearly against the will of God who had forbidden inter-marriages between Israel and other nations (Deuteronomy 7:3-4; 1 Kings 11:2).

Ezra, priest at that time, greatly burdened by the sins of the people had embarked on intercession. And while he prayed, the Bible states that a very large assembly of men, women and children gathered to him, greatly distressed that they had trespassed against the Lord. They made a covenant to repent and forsake their seemingly irreversible sin. They tell Ezra that it was his responsibility (as Priest) to ensure that they are guided through the process of restitution.

Though primarily for those who occupy the priesthood, this message is however for all believers as Revelations 1:6 states that we have all been made priest unto the Lord our God.

So, what is this responsibility? It is to ensure that God’s people under our care are fully restored to doing and living His will, especially in areas where there has been disobedience. While it is a given that every faithful shepherd must continually intercede for those under his spiritual care (it is sin if we do not pray - 1 Samuel 12:23), our responsibility however extends beyond prayer to overseeing their ‘return’ and restoration to doing the will of God. In Ezra 10:3-4, the people not only showed remorse at their wrongdoings, but they also sought the help of their priest to help guide their return to doing God’s will.

And in a sense this is where discipleship comes in and becomes extremely important. Yes, as priests, we preach and teach the truth of God’s Word and that allows as many as hear us to perhaps see the areas where their choices do not align with God’s will. And yes just like Ezra, we might eat no bread, drink no water while we mourn for the sins of the people (Ezra 10:6), nevertheless whatever we do is incomplete and of no spiritual benefit except that it restores the fallen to living God’s will. We must trust the Holy Spirit to enable us, like Ezra, to take responsibility and lead God’s people all the way back to the Father.

In Ezra 10:10-11, the Bible states that Ezra arose and in taking responsibility said to the people:

“You have transgressed and have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel. Now therefore, make confession to the Lord God of your fathers, and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the pagan wives.”

This was a clear call to renounce the sin and return to God the Father.

Clearly this was easier for Ezra because the people were remorseful and sought to do God’s will. We face greater challenges when discipling those who either do not want to hear the truth or are offended when we seek to intervene as their priests in returning them to living God’s will. The ‘return’ process in Ezra is threefold – the intercession, the declaration of what has gone wrong and the challenge and guidance to return to God. Steps 1 and 2 we can do in hope of Step 3 - basically because we need the cooperation of the believer at this stage.

What is deeply humbling here is that they were willing to return to the will of God on an issue where I presume most of us (myself included) would consider irreversible. And I am not proposing for anyone to do this. But what manner of devotion and love for God will lead a people to willingly decide to do that? How do we walk away from our spouses of so many years and our children just so we can return to the center of God’s will? 2 Corinthians 5:15 says that Christ died for us so that we no longer live for ourselves but for the will of Him who died for us. And if we are to live for Him, we must be willing to step away from the place where our will has led us and return to the place where His will demands that we be.

As priests unto the Lord our God, we must continually arise (like Ezra) and ensure that we do not just acknowledge and intercede for the sins of the people but that we give all the support and spiritual guidance required to ensure that they are continually restored to doing God’s will. This is our responsibility as priests!

Shalom

Chi Onwuchekwa