Ezra 7:10 has been a text I have reflected on a great deal since June 2004 when I started my ministry as the Registrar at Toronto Baptist Seminary. In that text the key unlocking the secret to Ezra’s blessed life is revealed. The gracious hand of God was upon him because Ezra had devoted himself to study God’s law and standards, to do them himself in obedience and to teach them to others.
Just yesterday I had the joy of catching the last part of a lecture on Evangelical Spirituality taught by Dr. Stephen Yuille at the Durham Bible Institute. This fairly new extension centre provides training for believers in the Durham region and holds its classes at Port Perry Baptist Church. Thought the topic was the Spirituality of the Puritans, Dr. Yuille challenged the class to apply the lessons learned to their own lives, their own families, their own ministries.
I met with Stephen and Jim Clemens (see picture) over lunch and went away rejoicing in the fellowship and vision of 2 brothers in Christ who model to me the passion of Ezra 7:10. Study God’s word, be obedient and then seek opportunities to teach it to others. May their tribe increase. Press on brothers – you are engaged in a great work!