10/10/2023 - TREMBLING BECAUSE OF THIS MATTER

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So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month; and all the people sat in the open square of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of heavy rain. Ezra 10.9

We must not be afraid to do the Lord’s will, as happened with the people who returned from captivity under Ezra. When Ezra compared how they lived in relation to the biblical precept on marriage, he acted quickly, demanding that those married to women foreign to the Mosaic doctrines dismiss them and return to the Lord’s commandment. This would shock the world today, but it had to be done, so that God’s people would be set free.

What happened in those days needs to happen in our hearts. As the days go by and without biblical understanding, we join ourselves to evil thoughts. And what is worse: we serve the devil in the wrong way in order to get rich, failing to obey the holy precepts. Today, we don’t need to split our family, but rather lead them to know the right way to live, repenting from evil procedures and loving the Most High.

It took the men of Judah three days to gather together in Jerusalem, where they heard clearly about their wrong practices. How long will it be before we do the same with our family? Have the children grown up and studied enough to decide whether or not to bow down to the Lord? Beware of the devil’s lying distractions! We are in the days of reconciliation with God, when He is convincing everyone that the Truth will set them free (John 8.32; 2 Corinthians 5.20).

The thought of modern man is prosperity above all else. To have it, people sacrifice even morally, because they have learned that material goods must be acquired at any cost. Now, these items are perishable and will melt away with the rest: looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3.12). Submit to the Father!

Because of the majestic work of Jesus through His death, today’s decisions are different and better than those of the people in Ezra’s day. Today, we must take God’s faith and love to every creature. Although some are very educated, they are as far from the Kingdom of God as any sinner. They need to hear that Christ paid the price for them to be saved!

The right message is one of salvation, without the need for suffering, because the Son has already gone into the kingdom of darkness and stripped the devil of the authority with which he imprisoned mankind. Preach the Good News about Jesus’ work of deliverance through His death and resurrection, and you will see people from all walks of life and from all over the world surrendering to the Savior and being saved. This can and should happen to you now. Believe and be saved!

Come and sit in the “square of the House of God”, where the Savior gathers you now. He will lead you to repentance and to take your place in His Kingdom. Today, you don’t have to send your wife away if she is of another religion, but lead her to the Lord. The same goes for the children.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares