You would think that after all the trouble that God’s people went through to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple that the people would finally settle down to love and obey God. But they don’t! They refuse to obey God’s command not to marry foreigners because those other people don’t love and praise the God of Israel. They become as careless about their relation to God as God’s people did just after Solomon had built the first Temple.

What a humble man Ezra is! He takes his role as a priest and prays on behalf of his people. He doesn’t point fingers and say “they” and “them,” but “we” and “us.” He becomes one with the people and takes on their sins as his own, even though he wasn’t guilty of them. 

Jesus did the same for you and me. St. Paul puts it this way in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For him who had no knowledge of sin God made to be sin for us; so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” 

Ezra 9:5-10:1

Bible Breaths Learn More…

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”

These Firestarters are for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet! Check the menu options at the site for more information.

God makes a comparison between the nations of the earth and great trees in the Garden of Eden. The

downfall of Assyria is described, one of the great empires of the ancient world. Watch what Ezekiel does

with the image of Assyria as a tree, later saying that the same sad fate of Assyria is going to happen to Egypt.

It all comes down to pride—that temptation that often comes to place ourselves as more important

than God. How about you? Do you need to grow in your thoughts about God—about how much God loves

you and wants you to love God by loving others?

Ezekiel 31

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.

These Firestarters are from a new edition of The Bible Through the Seasons being developed for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet! Check the menu options at the site for more information.

It might seem strange, but Jesus says that some wonderful things are going to happen to his disciples because he is going away. We might think that if Jesus stayed with them he would give them the power that they need; but no. Jesus says that unless he goes away, the Holy Spirit will not come. It’s the Holy Spirit that brings all the fullness of what God can give to us.

There are nine days between the Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost, a week from Sunday. The word “novena” comes from the root meaning of the word “nine.” This is what Jesus means when he talks about “the little while” between his going away and the coming of the Spirit. Jesus brought great joy to his disciples and will do the same for us if we read his words very slowly and quietly, believing the many promises in these verses. How many of these promises can you count?

John 16:16-33

A Bible Breath: You turn my pain into joy. v. 20

 Touch to learn more…

The Firestarters are taken from the version for families with young children.