“The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple.” (Ezra 1:2)
Expanded Passage: Ezra 1:2-3
As a young wife and mother, I struggled with the rules of domesticity. I remember attending several Bible studies looking for answers. At the time, I was drowning in my new roles, and I knew I needed to dig deeper into God’s Word. To my dismay, several studies focused on the importance of making the beds every morning or having a hot meal on the table every night. I was learning to build my home, and this was good, but I wasn’t learning to change my heart—and in all actuality, while it certainly was important to care for my husband and children, it was my heart that needed reconstruction.
In today’s passage, a very well-intentioned leader—a leader appointed by God—similarly undergirded the people of Israel to return to Jerusalem and to build the temple of the Lord. This was a welcome and needed step in the construction of God’s kingdom. But, of course, we know that what the people of Israel needed more than anything was to have their hearts wholly reconstructed, devoted, and transformed.
It’s very easy to be distracted by good things and consequently miss the best things. We tend to construct our lives externally, forgetting that the most important work we must do is on the inside. We must first invite God to do his work within us.
Focus on inward transformation.
Dalene Fisher is a full-time wife, mother, and grandma. She is a former associate professor of English, dean, and assistant provost at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
