Ezra 7-8

“Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest … now I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you” 7:12-13).  The re-construction of Jerusalem had been on pause for years, but finally, King Artaxerxes permitted a new wave of exiles to return with Ezra and gave them supplies to rebuild.  God was reminding the exiles that no matter what empire held earthly power, He was the One who shaped the destiny of His people.

“I took courage …” (7:28).Because our citizenship is in heaven, we can courageously sacrifice and love others as we follow our King Jesus.