Ezra 10:1 (ESV): “While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly.”
Repentance is the most powerful action known to man. The God of the universe responds 100% of the time when people are truly repentant. So repent, confess your sins, and turn to God, and watch Him work!
Ezra was dumbfounded by what he discovered upon returning to Jerusalem. The people of God had broken faith and intermarried with the pagans around them. Ezra tore his clothes, ripped hair from his head and beard, and sat appalled before the people until the evening sacrifice. He then began to intercede on behalf of this remnant. He wept and threw himself down repeatedly before God. When the people saw this, they wept bitterly and separated themselves from the foreigners. This is true repentance.
When was the last time you experienced true repentance in your heart? If it’s been a while, perhaps you have grown accustomed to your sin. It’s incredibly easy for us to be lulled to sleep in this area of our lives. Sin separates us from God! If you are a Christian, you break fellowship with Him. If you are a non-believer, you are heaping up judgment upon yourself. Come to Christ and plead the blood of the Lamb over your life. It’s at the cross where we find godly sorrow that leads to repentance. God, help us all to be found as Ezra was—so appalled by our sin that it leads to true repentance.
Father, search our hearts to see if there is any wicked way in us. Convict us of our sin and lead us to the Cross, where we can find forgiveness. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
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