Trying to Discourage God's People
The people of this world and the Devil will do whatever they can do to try to discourage God's people from accomplishing the mission God has for us. (Ezra 4:4,5) This was true in Ezra's day after the exile in Babylon, and it is still true today. We must never give into discouragement. We must remain faithful to the Lord and to the task before us. When we are faithful, God will bless us.
The people who were living in the land when king Cyrus allowed the Jewish people to return to build the temple and the city of Jerusalem tried several things to stop the work on the temple. They wrote a letter to the one in authority, the king of Persia, asking Him to stop the work. In the letter they were very negative, and they assumed the people would rebel against the king once the city was completed. These are normal tactics that are used by people and the Devil today. Often, those who oppose God's people will appeal to the government to make laws to stop Christians from doing God's will. Also, they assume that believers will be hateful, angry people who will hurt others. That is not true, at all, but people believe lies that are told loud enough and long enough.
Therefore, we must not stop from doing God's will because the government makes laws against God's will. God's laws come first, when the laws of the country contradict His laws. Also, we must not be discouraged when people dislike us or misunderstand us. We must love them, and show them that what they have heard is wrong. All the while, we continue to be faithful to God's Word and His will, so that we are not discouraged by their efforts.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezra 6-8.
The people who were living in the land when king Cyrus allowed the Jewish people to return to build the temple and the city of Jerusalem tried several things to stop the work on the temple. They wrote a letter to the one in authority, the king of Persia, asking Him to stop the work. In the letter they were very negative, and they assumed the people would rebel against the king once the city was completed. These are normal tactics that are used by people and the Devil today. Often, those who oppose God's people will appeal to the government to make laws to stop Christians from doing God's will. Also, they assume that believers will be hateful, angry people who will hurt others. That is not true, at all, but people believe lies that are told loud enough and long enough.
Therefore, we must not stop from doing God's will because the government makes laws against God's will. God's laws come first, when the laws of the country contradict His laws. Also, we must not be discouraged when people dislike us or misunderstand us. We must love them, and show them that what they have heard is wrong. All the while, we continue to be faithful to God's Word and His will, so that we are not discouraged by their efforts.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezra 6-8.