Tuesday 28th April
Read Ezra 1:5-6
“Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites – everyone whose heart God had moved – prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbours assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.” (NIVUK)
We underestimate the movement of God’s spirit in the time before Jesus. The classic examples that are cited are the gifting of the craftsmen of the tabernacle, the wisdom and leadership of Moses and David. These are individuals working to lead God’s people forward.
Here in Ezra the same phrase is used of Cyrus, the Persian king, and the leaders of the exiled community in Babylon. The implication extends even to their neighbours, whose hearts are turned towards those whom God has moved to return to Jerusalem with financial assistance. These are not just isolated, important individuals – this is an entire city, pagan and faithful alike.
This movement was expressed in a heart to build God’s temple, and to sacrificially and freely give to enable it to happen. Whilst there are tangible, physical gifts provided – at its heart it is a willingness to serve. We often think that the gifts and movement of God’s spirit in our hearts are individual resources granted to us for the good of others. But even here in Ezra it is far more than that – it is a community of people transformed.
The common focus on identifying our individual spiritual gifts found in many traditions sometimes misses the key point that Ezra identifies here. The people themselves are the gift. God’s spirit moved an entire city and community to surrender comfort and embrace hardship.
Paul knows this to be true also. Consider his words to the Ephesian church… “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13) (NIVUK).
The people are the gift. A gift that is fully expressed together.
