“Guilt Of Thy Brothers”

“O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown ever to the heavens…”  These are the words of Ezra after he hears the news that Israel has married into other nations.  Can you imagin this type of setting, they just get back from being in exile due to this very fact, diobeying God.  Now word comes to Ezra that his fellow men are commiting the very same sin.  How could they do this?  Is not the memory of being captive still fresh in their minds?  Can they no longer remember why it is that the temple which is being rebuilt is no where near the splender that it once was?  With the fingure being pointed so easily at this nation, may we not do so for long as we have fellow brothers in Christ who are sinning and we say nothing.  The sad thing is that we feel no remorse when it comes to our brothers/sisters spiritual walk and if we hear that they are sinning we simply say, “That’s too bad!”

Oh God, forgive us for not caring about our walk and even more neglecting the opportunity to push our brothers and sisters in Christ towards your Son.  Help us to live up to what is said in James 5:20 “let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”