Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.

WORSHIP | 5-15 Minutes
Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He’s done.
Start by playing some worship music you love, or choose from one of our Spotify Playlists.
Journal or say out loud 3-5 things you’re thankful for in the last 24 hours.
Further Focus: Read 2 Peter 3:9. Focus on one truth about who God is & thank Him for it.

PRAYER | 5-15 Minutes
Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
If you’re just starting out, practice hearing from God by asking questions like, “Father, what do you want me to know about you?” or “Father, what do you want to say about your love for me?” Simply be still and listen, or journal anything that comes to mind.
Further Focus: Learn more about hearing from God using the Tending Your Heart guide.

SCRIPTURE | 5-25 Minutes
Our scripture focus for this study is Ezra 3:11. Try memorizing it!
Today’s reading is from Ezra 8
Ask the following SOS Questions & journal your thoughts…
S = Say. What is the main point? What does it teach about God (Jesus) & yourself?
O = Obey. What can you apply (practice) from this passage today?
S = Share. Who can you share what you’re learning with today?
Further Focus: One of the best ways to learn more about the Bible is by discussing it with others.
Work through this week’s Lifegroup Discussion Guide and meet up with a Paradox Lifegroup. *Coming Soon!

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING
I have mixed feelings about the lists of names found in the Old Testament. My first response is to skip over it and get to pertinent information. But I have learned to stop and appreciate what God is doing in these lists. First of all, He is honoring those who accepted the call of obedience. Secondly, He is giving an account of how many chose to stay behind. Why would they stay behind? One commentariat suggested the Israelites were definitely in captivity, but they had become a part of the community and culture of Babylon. Jeremiah 29:4-7 instructs the Israelites to continue on with their lives in Babylon. Build houses, plant gardens, give your children into marriage, seek the welfare of the city I send you to, and pray for the people there. They were being punished for their centuries of disobedience, but they would still prosper in some ways and carry on with life in the place the Lord sent them. Their punishment was to last 70 years, and now it was completed. They had the king’s blessing to return to Jerusalem and worship the Lord in His holy city! You’d think they’d be knocking each other over to be in the line to go home. But not all chose to follow Ezra’s call to leave. Did you catch what Ezra had to do in verse 15? He counted the people and found no Levites. These were the God-appointed people to care for the temple and the people. No one came. Ezra had to go to their special school to give them a personal invitation to do their duty to the Lord in the Holy City, in the new temple. At first glance, this seems preposterous, but let's stop here for a minute. Have you ever found yourself in bondage to something and afraid to leave this place of familiarity and comfort? The Israelites lived there for 70 years; some were born in Babylon and did not know the Holy City. Leaving their home was scary and wrought with uncertainty. I, too, have been in their shoes. Approximately 20 years ago, I was trying to live obediently to the Lord, and He was doing a major work in my heart, trying to free me from sins that had become so much a part of how I defined myself. I didn’t even know they were sins. I had done a Bible Study that told us we live in bondage and don’t recognize it. We wallpaper the prison cell and add flowers and pillows. We make it cozy and homey, never wanting to leave this place we call home. Jesus, through His death and resurrection, has freed us from bondage. We are no longer confined to the prison cells made for us or by us. Even freedom looks scary because it’s unfamiliar. One day, I had to make a choice to leave the bondage I had been freed from and live in faith and trust of the Lord. It is on this day I experienced true freedom. Was my life easy and free from pain and suffering after this decision? Nope. But I had a new and stronger faith in Jesus and believed He would carry me and empower me to do what was next. Take this day’s reading as your special invitation, similar to Ezra’s to the Levites. Leave the prison cell of bondage and familiarity and allow Jesus to show you what true freedom looks and feels like. - Renee Richter

SHARE | 1-5 Minutes
Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
Going Deeper: Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!