Ezra 1:5-6
“Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem. And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.”
While Nehemiah was rebuilding the walls of the city, Ezra was rebuilding the temple. Originally Ezra and Nehemiah were one book, they were divided later. Without the temple rebuilt, the walls Nehemiah rebuilt would have pointless. To rebuild our cities we must work together and work under our personal strengths.
The First Priority strategy starts with connecting the local churches in a community together as a team surrounding the local middle and high schools. Until the church is “rebuilt” and unified, our work is not complete. Sometimes it takes rebuilding a mindset in a community between the churches to make this happen. Just as Ezra and Nehemiah did, it’s all about getting everyone working toward a common goal. That goal is to see that every student hears the Good News. Chapter One of the book of Ezra sees Israel destroyed, desolate, and the people were decimated. But God is a God of second chances. God had a next chapter for Israel. Restoration was possible. In fact, Cyrus restored all the vessels stolen from Solomon’s temple.
We have students all across the nation that need restoration in their lives. They are desperate. Nehemiah and Ezra worked hand in hand to see the glory of God return to Israel. First Priority wants to work hand in hand with “Nehemiahs” and “Ezras” all across the country to see the glory of God return to our nation. It can happen! The book of Ezra is proof of that. Restoration can happen when the church has a spirit of unity and is willing work together.
