We need Ezra-like Leadership Today

“When the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled with the unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had given for Israel to obey” (Nehemiah 8:1NLT).

We are organizing leadership training seminar next month and we had chosen Ezra and Nehemiah as our main models of godly-leadership character that we want to see in our campus fellowship leaders. Ezra, especially, is one of my favorite Bible's characters. I’ll tell you why. Right after the wall of Jerusalem finished, the people wanted to continue to enjoy God’s blessing and dedicated not to fall into sin again. So they assembled together – hungry to hear God’s Word. And here is the best part: whom they ask to read the Word? Ezra!

Ezra was someone who “had determined to study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel” (Ezra 7:10NLT). They could count on him because he had devoted his life to studying God’s Word. As he read, “all the people listened closely to the Book of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:3). He and the Levites; “read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage” (Nehemiah 8:8). Wonderful! People trust that Ezra can explain God’s Word clearly and accurately because of his integrity in handling the Word of Truth effectively and he know his God personally. Oh I love Ezra!

Today, The Bible, God’s Word is still the authoritative guide to knowing God and to live according to God’s way. Like the Israelites on that day; today, we need URGENTLY individuals who are experts in the Bible and can share their godly insights, knowledge with us. We need people like Ezra who are determined to study and obey God’s Word and able to teach others effectively. We need leaders (pastors, especially and all Christians, generally) to give more time on studying the Word and to increase their knowledge of the Word. If leaders are going to feed the flocks, they must have time to feed themselves. We need leaders like Ezra who treasure God’s Word both in his mind and heart; who study and meditate on the very words of God; who read and obey; who live his own teachings and teach others to do the same.

We need more Ezra-like leadership in our generations today!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.