We’re in the book of Ezra, which has only 10 chapters. The mission in the book was to rebuild the Temple, and they finished it, as recorded in Ezra 6. Finally, in chapter 7, we meet Ezra for the first time:

After all this, Ezra. It was during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia. Ezra was the son of Seraiah, …, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest. That’s Ezra. He arrived from Babylon, a scholar well-practiced in the Revelation of Moses that the GOD of Israel had given. (Ezra 7.1 – 5, MSG)

Before this reading, knowing the Temple reconstruction had started and been delayed, I thought that the revived construction occurred because of Ezra. Nope. He came after. But I really like what the text says about him:

For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. (Ezra 7.10, ESV)

It’s one of my life verses, and the message is clear:

Study, do, teach

Study

We wrote yesterday about the importance of the written word. There’s no reason today why every believer, especially in the US, shouldn’t be competent in studying the Word. The translations are there. The tools are there. I repeatedly urge everyone I’m around to have Daily Time with God, a major component of which is the Word.

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15.16, ESV)

Do

But it’s not enough to study the Word. Some people like to do that, searching for the great truths of the Faith. I’ve visited and participated in more men’s Bible studies than I can count, and I can tell in less than a minute if I’m around “study and do” people or just “study” people. Jesus was clear: you must put the Word into practice:

But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. (Matthew 7.26, MSG)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1.22, NIV)

Teach

Study and do is good, but study, do, teach is better. But Bob, Ezra was a priest. I’m just a layperson. Nope:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2.9, NIV, emphasis mine)

If you’re a believer, you’re a priest, and priests teach:

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 2.7, ESV)

I love this specific commission in Ezra 7:

…Anyone who does not know the Teaching, you teach them. (Ezra 7.25, MSG)

Sorry. This one went a little long, but I hope you’re inspired to imitate Ezra. Go forth to…

Study, do, teach

This is not an impractical or impossible suggestion. I saw the same message in a secular source. Stay tuned.