The Ones We Remember

There are people that we can't remember and there are those we can't forget. Those we can recall stand out in our minds because they said or did something that matters.

In Ezra 2 we find one of those long lists of names that show up in Scripture every now and then. Have you ever wondered why God provided those long lists of names?

I do not know all of God's reasons, but one reason these people are listed is because they were a part of something BIG God was doing.

In Ezra 2 we find the names of the people that were willing to go back to Palestine and restart the worship of God in preparation for the coming Messiah. There were plenty of dispersed Jews throughout the world that could have gone back. Most didn't because they had gotten comfortable where they were and they chose to do what was easiest for them rather than what would impact eternity.

And they were probably safe and happy, but now they are forgotten to us. They received their reward. The names that heaven honors are the ones that are willing to give up brief happiness in order to serve God's purpose. Those are the names that end up on lists like Hebrews 11.

May God bless us to be those that do what is hard and right and good and be remembered as those that made serving God our highest priority.