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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Ezra 4:4
Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and made them afraid to go on building.
Because you do what God wants you to do, it won’t necessarily make you popular.
What is more, the people who become your enemies are often those who think that they are just like you or are trying to do the same thing. At face value, these ‘people of Esarhaddon’ were like the people of Judah, worshippers of God. But they did it alongside worshipping other gods. Interestingly enough, these people were later known as Samaritans. They claimed they worshipped the same God so what was the problem? Why become exclusive and bigoted? Let us come and help you - surely you need all the help you can get?
“But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, ‘you have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.’ Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They hired counsellors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus, king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia” (v 4-5). (15 years in all.)
They complained to both Xerxes and Artaxerxes and then wrote a letter to King Darius asking him to find out if in fact Cyrus had ever given the exiles his authority to rebuild.
The challenges are the same today. I shall never forget the pioneer days we had in United Christian Broadcasters (Europe) when we were trying to establish Christian Radio in the Isle of Man. We met with one group who were interested in helping get things going, particularly with finance. The people were very helpful, encouraging and supportive and genuinely wanted to help financially. There was really only one problem. Our basis of faith.
Why did we have to be so exclusive? One of them had a son with the Hari Krishnas and really believed that all religion had merit - so why become so fundamentalist and exclusive. Let’s all help - we all want peace, harmony, and are working together to achieve it.
Sounds great and inviting, doesn’t it? Especially with a financial carrot being offered to a penniless organisation. But we could not compromise. We had to wait for God and maintain our integrity even though we had to endure hostility from many religious quarters. But if God gives you the vision, it is His and not yours - thus the problems are His, not yours - and so you can carry on regardless and you are bound to win, eventually.
There will always be discouragers, but when we keep in tune and in step with Jesus, He will provide the success.
If God is for us, who can be against us? (see Romans 8:28-39)
Let that sink down into your soul today. Keep your eyes on Jesus and stand upon His promises. He will establish His purposes in and through you, regardless of the opposition.
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