Ezra opened the book. Every eye was on him (he was standing on the raised platform) and as he opened the book everyone stood. Then Ezra praised God, the great God, and all the people responded, “Oh Yes! Yes!” with hands raised high. And then they fell to their knees in worship of God, their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:5-6
Nehemiah has achieved what God called him to do, the walls are rebuilt. Ezra the priest brought “the Book of The Revelation of Moses that God had commanded for Israel.” I love how the people respond when God’s word is read out! “Oh Yes! Yes!” with hands raised high. And then they fell to their knees in worship of God, their faces to the ground.” Imagine if churches had that same zeal today!
Ezra had a platform. He brought God’s word on his platform. We all have a platform. In our homes, at work, in ministry, on social media, in our emails, our journals, whether it be large or small, people are watching, listening, reading what we bring on our platforms. What is the message we are bringing? Is it a nice positive message that tickles peoples ears? Or is it the Word of God?
With the message we bring, does it inspire people to praise God, and humble themselves before him on their knees, with their faces to the ground?
I wonder if we surveyed modern church goers, and how many believers have actually raised their hands, or fallen on their knees, and faceplanted before God? Many church goers are too numb, or conservative or self-conscious to be so outlandish before the Lord. Should we be more like David and dance and be even more undignified than this?
On a different note, I read a whole bunch of quotes on missions today, on a missionaries Twitter feed. This guy I found is bringing a platform of christian radio to Romania. His twitter platform got me fired up for missions today. You never know who will be impacted by your platform… Check out these quotes:
“All the money needed to send and support an army of self-sacrificing, joy-spreading ambassadors is already in the church.” ~John Piper”
“Go straight for souls, and go for the worst.” ~William Booth”
“The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity.” ~Mike Stachura”
“Go, send, or disobey.” ~John Piper”
“The Bible is not the basis of missions; missions is the basis of the Bible” ~Ralph Winter”
“Never pity missionaries; envy them. They are where the real action is” ~Robert C. Shannon”
“We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first.” ~Oswald J. Smith”
“Christ wants not nibblers of the possible, but grabbers of the impossible.” ~C.T. Studd”
“If God calls you to be a missionary, don’t stoop to be a king” ~Jordan Grooms”
Lord Help me honour you with the platform you have given me. As the psalmist sings, “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be ever pleasing to you Lord.” In Jesus name, Amen.