Back at Ezra

Ezra was almost a humbling priest. Here's a man who, in Ezra 8, follows through with his plans to leave the king's court in Persia, where he had a LOT of favor. He left there without added protection, confident that the Lord would come through for them all. He arrived in Jerusalem full of praise. Yet, when it is apparent that the remnant had become enmeshed with their ungodly neighbors, Ezra began to pray. He didn't pray against "them" or about "them"; instead he prayed, "our sins are piled high" (Ezra 9:8). "Our." He hadn't done anything wrong, but he remained in mourning because the nation had sinned. He took responsibility and brought everything before the Lord. He followed Paul's example in 1 Cor 5, when he told the church to judge the Christians inside it. In his judgment, Ezra realized the unity of those in the faith. "Their" sin was his. Isn't it the same for us? Shouldn't we look around our Christian communities to identify with the other believers? Isn't "their" sin ours because we're all one in the body of Christ? What about "their" joy? Ours. What about "their" emotions, "their" thoughts, "their" illnesses? All ours. Lord, may we love you and our brothers and sisters like Ezra must have - because you are good!