Living faithfully for Him - with commitment

Can we even imagine what it would be like?
Are we so far removed in today's modern world, that we can't fathom what it was like?
The Jewish people in the book of Ezra gave up their familiar surroundings, packed up, and walked across a thousand miles of desert to a land that had been devastated by war. This took commitment! As they walked along and prodded their pack animals to keep moving, all the while tasting the sand in their mouths, they stayed committed.
As they searched the horizon for an oasis to wet their parched lips, they stayed committed.
As they pulled up their blankets in the cold desert night and thought longingly of a comfortable pallet at home, they stayed committed. As the night air was pierced with the sounds of nocturnal animals scurrying around (a little too closely, thank you!) they held on tightly to that commitment.

No, it wasn't comfortable. It wasn't convenient. But they could not sing the songs of the Lord in Babylon.

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept    when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars    we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs,    our tormentors demanded songs of joy;    they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How can we sing the songs of the Lord    while in a foreign land? If I forget you, Jerusalem,    may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth    if I do not remember you,if I do not consider Jerusalem    my highest joy. (Psalm 137:1-6)

They kept longing for the city of Jerusalem, their home. They longed for the Temple where God's glory had been known. It made them willing to do whatever they had to, to see God enthroned among His people, in His holy place.

Not only can their commitment be seen in their trek to Jerusalem, but also in their plans for worship. The chapters we've read focus on the return of the priests, Levites, singers, and even doorkeepers of the Temple. Israel was organized for the purpose of worship. There is a proper place for spontaneity in worship, it's true, but there is also a need for order and for planning. Also, the priests who could not confirm their ancestry were prevented from serving at first. Holiness was an essential factor in their worship, as it should be in ours, too. To be living as the world lives all week long, and then pop into church for a few minutes of "worship" is not being true to God. All week long our lives should bring glory to Him through our thoughts, words, and deeds. Then on a day of worship, our gratitude and obedience overflow in true worship of our Father.

These lists of people in Ezra also show us the great variety of services performed by people; each had their duty to perform for the smooth functioning of the whole. Of course, some were more visible, and some were more behind the scenes, but each one was important. In our churches today, every believer has been given a spiritual gift to exercise in serving the Lord and showing glory to Him:

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (I Peter 4:10-11)

We've touched on this earlier, but the people also showed their commitment by giving. The first thing these people did was to go to the place where the house of the Lord had been and offer their gifts willingly to restore it. In the later verses of chapter two, we see that there were wealthy people and poor people who returned -- the record of the animals gives us clues. Some of the people returning had horses (like having a Cadillac at that time!) and some had donkeys, but many of them didn't own any animals. It says the people gave "according to their ability," and that implies that perhaps the wealthier people gave more, but that the poor gave as they could.
In our new covenant world, Paul instructs us to lay aside some of our assets and give as the Lord has prospered us:

Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. (I Corinthians 16:1-2)

We asked the question when we began this section of Ezra . . . why would this long list of names be in the Bible?  I believe the answer is to spur us on to growth in Christ-likeness.

First, let's make sure that we are God's children, His chosen people. Have we truly put our trust in the Lord, and is there evidence of that in our lives?
Secondly, are we experiencing (and accepting) God's discipline in our lives? All of this is to train us to share His holiness as we submit to Him.
Lastly, are we living faithfully to His covenant? Are we seeking to continue the heritage of godliness, to be a part of the community of believers, and committing to worship, service, and using our financial and spiritual gifts?
These responses to His faithfulness will mean that we are living in a right relationship with Him, and that we give Him the glory each day!