For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. (Ezra 7:10)
Expanded Passage: Ezra 7:6-10
Every Friday in my junior year, I had a Psychology test. In this unusual 101 class, we didn’t have class time. Instead, we had a twenty-five-pound textbook, and the gumption and stick-to-it-iveness to learn the content for each week’s test. I loved it because I was a great memorizer. I didn’t love it because it usually required a Thursday all-nighter.
Ezra devoted himself to the study and observance of God’s law. He also taught others, helping them observe the laws in everyday life. He dreamed of Israel coming back together in the newly rebuilt and dedicated temple, so when King Artaxerxes of Persia appointed him to lead a wave of exiled Israelites back from Babylon, he anticipated a bold opportunity to help bring about the spiritual renewal that his heart longed to see.
It mattered to Ezra that the heart behind the law impacted who people were—hat the words of the law inhabited them and changed how they lived. He longed to see them shine as God’s chosen people.
When I crammed information into my head late on Thursday nights, it fueled me to ace my tests. However, it did not impact my daily life nor stick with me beyond the semester. There is a vast difference between seeking information in the Bible and seeking the heart of God through it. One will inform while the other can transform.
Seek the heart of God when you read his Word.
Elizabeth Rhyno is a Wesleyan worship and discipleship pastor and entrepreneur. She enjoys helping people deepen their intimacy with the Lord and grow in their joyful purpose.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
