Prepare and do and teach

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel. – Ezra 7v10

These guys who lead the rebuilding the temple and the city and restoring proper worship are a blessing to me. I like the practicality of these passages. I like the fact that sometimes God’s work is ‘real’ work and involves bricks and mortar and hammer and nails.

I like Ezra as well. I like his attitude in making sure that his spiritual life was in tune with the physical labour. I like these three aspects of seeking what God wanted him to do.

Ezra prepared his heart to see the law of the Lord.

Ezra did the law of the Lord.

Ezra taught others the law of the Lord.

Prepare, do, and teach. Doesn’t that describe the way that we share the gospel and do God’s work today?

It is important that we are constantly preparing our hearts to do the work of God. Once we have prepared our hearts we need to get out and do the work. It is great to study and prepare and get ready, but that doesn’t do much good if we don’t do anything with it. Then, if it is to carry on, we much teach others as well.

Prepare and do and teach made sense for Ezra’s time as they sought to re-establish worship in Jerusalem. Pray and do and teach makes sense today as well.