TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
God can turn enemies into friends. Cyrus was the king of Persia, a cruel nation that conquered and oppressed the surrounding nations. But in the Bible in the first chapter of the book of Ezra we read that God moved in his heart and he decided to allow the Jews to rebuild their temple in Jerusalem. Thus, began a journey back from captivity where the people of God were allowed to go back to their historic home. And even today, the nation of Israel exists as God’s restored people. So, as you read in Ezra 1 below, remember not to give up on people. God may be at work in their heart.
(Ezra 1:1-4) 1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: 2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. 4 And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’”
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