Ezra 3:1,4,7

Ezra 3:1,4,7  And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required; They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia. Once the Jews were back in their land, they worked hard on their homes and on the Temple. They began to keep the feasts that Moses had established in the book of Exodus. They separated themselves from wicked people who had moved into their land after they were removed to Babylon. The people began to set aside money to give to skilled workers, who rebuilt the beautiful Temple. Our verses say that the workers were paid in food. The Jews further sent to Lebanon for huge cedar trees which were floated down the river to the ocean and on to the Jewish seaport of Joppa. Cedar smells so sweet and is straight and strong wood. It is perfect for a beautiful house for God. Because the people were so careful in rebuilding the Temple, we can tell that they cared about doing their best for God. That is a good example for us. Do we care about God? Do we give Him our best? Do we do our best work at church? Are we careful as we do our memory verses in Master Club? Wow! That is a lot to think about.