Signs of Salvation

Meditation from Ezra Chapter 9

When we were slaves God did not forsook us but showed His steadfast love (9:9).
Yes, when we were slaves to sin, Christ died for our sins and demonstrated God's love towards us.

In the 9th verse Ezra shows the following signs of salvation,

1. New Life : When we acknowledge this love of God and surrender our life to Christ, we receive the new life.

For he who is in Christ, old things have passed away, everything has become new. We should walk in the newness of life.

2. Set the House : Our body is the house of God. We freely receive the new life in Christ, but we cannot take it for granted.
It's our responsibility to set our body & life in order and discipline it. A disciple without discipline is a disaster.

3. Repair the Ruins : When we don't constantly & periodically check anything that which is new, it will soon cease its newness. There is possibility of mistakes in this life and we need to continuously Introspect our life according to the word of God and repair it.

4. Protection : When we don't set our life & body in order and don't inspect, Introspect & repair it, we lose the wall of protection. Our life becomes prone to all the arrows of the devil & the world.

5. Tremble at the Word : One of the most important signs of true salvation and true spirituality is to tremble at the word of God. (9:4)

We should never take the Word for granted and should always tremble & obey God's word.

When Ezra found out that the people of God had disobeyed God's word in their marriages, he couldn't bear it and tore his garments and fasted and wept and felt ashamed to life his face to the Lord (9:5-7)

Word of God should lead us to repentance and renewal of our mind every time we read or listen to it.

6. Live by the Word : Here the people of God failed to live by the Word by marrying the gentiles. (9:1,2)

We need to live by the Word of God in every areas of our life.

Ezra concludes his prayer acknowledging that we deserve to be punished yet God was merciful and did not punish us as we deserve (9:13).

Paul writes in Romans 5 & 6 that where sin increases, grace abounds, but it is not that we sin, but to live our life in Christ, dead to sin.

Check your life according to the word of God and realign it, so that the purpose of salvation may not go waste in your life.

Today's Intercession :

# Pray for the Founder & General Secretary of GEMS, Augustine Jebakumar Uncle, for his complete healing and recovery.

# Pray that the surgery wounds may heal completely and that he will be restored back to good health.

# Pray for all the missionaries and missionary kids to be protected and to receive the needed healing & strength.

Have a blessed day!