FINDING YOUR WAY
Re-centering our lives around God’s Word
Ezra 7:1-10
INTRODUCTION:
Good morning everyone. It’s so good to be with you today. This morning, I want to talk with you about Finding Your Way—both in life and in faith.
We are living in a moment in human history when we are flooded with information. Never before have so many voices competed for our attention. Everyone has an opinion, and every voice seems to be calling out, inviting us to follow their way.
And yet, for all the information we have, it’s still possible to feel overwhelmed and uncertain. Unsure of which way to go. Because the real issue is not a lack of information. It is a lack of orientation.
And, orientation is critical!
In 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to lead an expedition west. The United States had just completed the Louisiana Purchase, and the nation needed to know more about the land it acquired.
So Lewis and Clark set out to cross the massive area of unexplored territory. Along with them they carried a handful of maps, ample supplies, and years of experience. But what they lacked most was certainty about the terrain ahead.
To help guide them, they carried a compass. More than any other tool, it proved to be indispensable. But as they traveled, they learned a critical lesson in navigation. And that is, that a compass points to magnetic north, not true north. So as they traveled through certain regions, the magnetic needle of their compass sometimes was affected by other elements and would lead them slightly off track. To compensate for this, they made routine stops to check their bearings, adjust their compass, and reorient themselves.
Historians note that their real success depended not on speed, but on their willingness to pause and reorient themselves by a fixed point of reference.
And that principle still holds true today. Moving forward without clear direction can be dangerous. We all need a fixed, and immovable, reference point by which to orient our lives!
And one of the clearest places we see this principle unfold is in the Old Testament book of Ezra.
Some of you will recall this story. After seventy years of exile in Babylon, in 538 B.C., a Jewish leader named Zerubbabel was commissioned by the Persian king Cyrus to lead the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem. His assignment was clear: rebuild the temple and restore worship in the nation of Israel. And that’s what he did. The temple was rebuilt, it was dedicated, and worship was reestablished. And, from the outside, everything looked good. But God’s work was not finished.
Nearly 80 years later, God raised up another leader, named Ezra. Ezra was scribe and a teacher. And like Zerubbabel before him, he too was living in Babylon. Again, God moved on the heart of the Persian king — this time a man named Artaxerxes I, and he commissioned Ezra to lead another group of exiles back to Jerusalem. But his job was to restore the spiritual foundations of the people.
Later, God would raise up Nehemiah to rebuild the walls. And each leader had a distinct assignment in God’s work of restoration.
But today, I want us to focus on Ezra. Because his story reminds us that finding our way begins with God’s Word. So, if you have your Bible, turn with me to Ezra chapter 7. Beginning in verse 6 we read:
6 “Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. 7 Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.” — Ezra 7:6-9 NIV
Before we get to far along, I want to point out that two different times in this short five verses of scripture, God’s Word described Ezra’s life as being marked by God’s blessing, as it stated, “the hand of His Lord was on him.” And this is significant because, in ancient times, the way a writer would emphasize something important was by repetition. He didn’t have the luxury or highlighting or underlining, so he would repeat. And this is significant to understanding this story. Ezra was a blessed man — marked by God’s presence. And the reason for that, was because of what we’re told in verse 10:
10 “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” — Ezra 7:6-10 NIV
This passage shows us how God reorients His people. His Word becomes the compass that corrects our course and leads us forward with clarity and purpose.
MESSAGE:
So with that, let me give you three simple truths from this passage to help you find your way. The first is this:
1. Let God’s Word Become Your True North.
Notice again, in verse 10, the Bible tells us something simple — but powerful. It says:
“For Ezra had devoted himself to the study…of the Law of the Lord…” — Ezra 7:10a NIV
Did you catch that? He DEVOTED HIMSELF!
This was not casual interest or a spiritual hobby. God’s Word was foundational. Ezra ordered his life around it. And to understand the weight of this, we need to remember where Israel has been.
For decades, God’s people lived in exile. They were surrounded by foreign customs, foreign gods, and foreign values. Their spiritual compass had been distorted over time. But, even after returning home, they were still vulnerable to drift because habits formed in exile do not disappear overnight.
That’s why Scripture introduces Ezra first as a student of the Word, not a reformer of the people. Before God used Ezra to shape others, He shaped Ezra through Scripture.
This is where renewal always begins.
Every journey needs a fixed point of reference. Without one, even sincere people can drift off course. The same is true spiritually. Many don’t reject God—they simply navigate life without Him. Decisions get shaped by urgency, emotion, and culture instead of truth. Faith becomes reactive instead of rooted.
Ezra understood something we often forget. God’s Word is not just information it’s orientation.
Psalm 119:105 says,
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119:105
Psalm 119:130 says,
“The unfolding of your words gives light.” — Psalm 119:130
Notice the language. A lamp does not illuminate the entire journey (all at once). It simply gives enough light for the next step. In the same way, God’s Word doesn’t answer every question, but it keeps us moving in the right direction.
This is why Ezra studied the Law of the Lord. He wanted his life to be aligned with God’s Word before he ever sought to lead others.
And I think there’s a quiet warning here for us.
It’s possible to be busy with spiritual activity while (at the same time), neglecting spiritual direction. It’s possible to attend worship, serve faithfully, and still allow the needle of our lives to be drawn towards other things.
Ezra understood this danger, so he intentionally devoted himself to God’s Word. It wasn’t enough to be familiar with it — he was determined to know it! He was devoted to it. It had become his True North!
And that is the invitation for us as well. Not to move Scripture to the margins of our lives, but to place it at the center. You do not need advanced training to live this way. What you need is a willing heart, steady consistency, and a commitment to listen and respond.
Finding the way forward does not begin with new ideas or dramatic moments. It begins with faithful devotion to God’s Word.
But direction alone is not enough.
Knowing the way and walking the way aren’t the same thing. A compass only helps if we actually follow where it points. That is why Ezra’s story does not end with devotion — it moves naturally to obedience.
Which brings us to the second truth of this story. And it’s this…You must:
2. Obey God’s Word to Stay On Track.
Ezra didn’t stop with just studying God’s Word. According to verse 10, he also gave himself to observing it. Listen again:
“For Ezra had devoted himself to the…observance of the Law of the Lord…” — Ezra 7:10b (NIV)
What this means is that he didn’t just understand Scripture; he lived it out!
That single word (Observed), moves us from God’s direction to our decision. The difference between the two are like, knowing and doing. It’s knowing the way and then choosing to walk in it.
Ezra understood that Scripture (the Word of God), is not merely something to be admired. It’s something to be obeyed. God’s Word does not function like a map we glance at occasionally. It functions more like a GPS that directs each path, each turn, and each movement that’s made.
And, I bring this up, because it mattered deeply to Ezra. He did not just want to go back. He wanted the future to be better than the past. He wanted to make sure they did not fall back into the same patterns of compromise and sin that had led them into exile in the first place.
For Ezra, and the nation of Israel, obedience to God’s Word wasn’t optional, it was essential. Each step they would make and each decision they would choose needed to be in congruence with God’s will and His Word.
They had learned the hard way what happens when God’s Word is ignored. The exile was not accidental. It was the result of generations of compromise, partial obedience, and spiritual drift.
— They knew how to worship, but they had stopped listening.
— They knew how to be religious, but they ignored God’s commands.
Now they were home again, but the danger remained. It is possible to return physically while still wandering spiritually.
That is why Ezra’s obedience mattered so much. His life was a living reminder that God’s Word is not burdensome. It is protective.
Obedience keeps us from drifting. Which is key — because, most spiritual drift does not happen suddenly. It happens quietly. Gradually. One decision at a time.
Jesus spoke to this (in John 14:15), when He said,
“If you love me, keep my commands.” —John 14:15 (NIV)
Obedience doesn’t produce perfection — rather, it reveals our love for God.
And that’s what Ezra understood. His obedience wasn’t about earning God’s favor. It was about responding to God’s faithfulness. His obedience showed that he trusted God’s way more than his own instincts.
And I think that’s why obedience is so difficult for many of us. Because it means trusting God more than ourselves. Scripture is honest about this tension. As Proverbs 14:12 reminds us,
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” — Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)
Left to ourselves, we are capable of choosing paths that feel right in the moment but slowly lead us away from life. That is why Ezra anchored his life in God’s Word. He allowed Scripture to shape his habits, reorder his priorities, and guide his responses. Rather than trusting his own instincts, Ezra chose God’s way and committed himself to walk it faithfully.
And this is where the connection to Jesus becomes beautifully clear.
Jesus did not merely give us commands to follow. He revealed Himself as both the direction and the destination. In John 14, He says,
“I am the way and the truth and the life.”
Obedience to God’s Word does more than keep us from harm. It draws us into deeper fellowship with Jesus. As we obey, we are not simply following instructions. We are learning to walk with Jesus, step by step, along the way that leads to true and lasting life.
So here is the simple takeaway.
Obedience is not about getting everything right. It is about choosing God’s way, one step at a time. Those small, faithful decisions become the guardrails that keep us from drifting and keep us moving toward God’s best.
And when our lives are consistently shaped by God’s Word and steady obedience, something important happens. A life that stays on the path does not stay hidden. It begins to point the way for others.
And that brings us to the final truth of this story. And it’s this…You must:
3. Share God’s Word So Others Can Follow.
Looking again at verse 10, we find that Ezra devoted himself not only to studying God’s Word and living it, but also to teaching it.
Ezra taught God’s Word because it had shaped his life. In the same way, we teach God’s truth anytime we live it out, speak it clearly, and share it faithfully with the people God has placed around us.
Listen again to this incredibly important verse:
“For Ezra had devoted himself to…the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”— Ezra 7:10c (NIV)
Notice the order:
Ezra devoted himself to the Word.
He lived the Word.
And then, he taught the Word.
That order matters so much!
Ezra didn’t just teach what he knew, he taught what he was living out. Which is the practice of all good preaching or teaching. The first audience is the preacher or teacher themselves. Because public ministry should always flow out of our private devotion.
For Ezra, his influence was rooted in his experience — not just information.
And this is where Ezra’s story speaks powerfully to us today. We live in a world full of information, but starving for example. As the saying goes, “You can teach what you know, but you reproduce who you are.”
Most of us will never stand before a nation like Ezra did. But every day, we stand before family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. And whether we realize it or not, our lives are always pointing somewhere!
In some ways, we function like a compass — pointing the way for others to follow.
So, in what direction is life pointing?
As it has often been said, “Evangelism is simply one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”
Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 5, when He said,
“You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14–16 (NIV)
So, we’re not responsible to create the light. We simply reflect it. And the closer we follow Jesus (the true light), the better we can reflect Him to others. And in doing so, our lives can show others “The Way!”
So here is the practical takeaway.
We teach God’s Word most powerfully, not with volume, but with consistency. Long before we speak it, we live it. And when our lives are aligned with God’s Word, our influence becomes natural and credible.
Every day, someone is watching how we respond, how we choose, and what we trust. Our lives are quietly pointing a direction.
And when a life is shaped by Scripture and anchored in obedience, God uses it to help others find their way.
— So let your life speak clearly.
— Stay aligned.
— Andpoint people to Jesus.
Conclusion
Well, that brings us back to the place we began this morning.
Regarding the story of Lewis and Clark, as they continued their journey westward, the compass never stopped being necessary to them. They didn’t just check it once and then put it away.
— They never assumed the previous day’s direction would be sufficient for the next day’s terrain.
— Every day they would pause, recalibrate their instruments, determine the direction, and walk confidently.
And in like manner, our faith in God and trust in His word works the same way.
Finding our way isn’t about a single dramatic moment. It’s about a lifetime of small choices and faithful adjustments. It’s what Eugene Peterson called, “a long obedience in the same direction.” It’s about devoting ourselves to God’s Word and returning to it again and again.
— So, let God’s Word reorient your heart.
— Let obedience steady your steps.
— And trust that as you walk with Him, step by step, He will continue to show you the way.
Salvation Prayer:
Before we close, someone here may be sensing God’s Spirit drawing you toward Him. You may know about faith, but you have never personally surrendered your life to Jesus.
This moment is not about pressure. It is an invitation. God is offering forgiveness, new life, and a restored relationship with Him.
If you are ready, pause where you are, quiet your heart, and pray with me, placing your trust in Jesus.
Heavenly Father, I come to You just as I am. I admit that I have sinned and chosen my way over Yours too often. But all that changes today. I believe in Jesus. I believe He came from heaven, died on the cross for my sin, and rose again. Today, I place my faith in Him. Forgive me. Save me. Give me new life in You. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed today and made a decision to follow Jesus —I’m so proud of you. This is the greatest decision you’ll ever make. I want to ask you to do something brave. Before you leave today, tell someone that you prayed to accept Jesus into your life this morning. And…let your pastor know!
Closing Prayer
And now, for the rest of us, let me pray over you:
Lord, we come to You for guidance. We confess that other voices have pulled at our direction. Today, realign our hearts, and let Your Word be our true north. Give us grace to obey You, even when the way feels slow or unclear. Lead us step by step, and use our lives to point others to Jesus. In His name, amen.