#soap # Ezra 08 ## Title: Good People In Our Lives Are a Blessing ## Scripture: (Ezra 8:18) “Due to the fact that the good hand of our God was on us, they brought us a skilled man, from the descendants of Mahli the son of Levi son of Israel. This man was Sherebiah, who was accompanied by his sons and brothers, 18 men;” (NET) ## Observation: Ezra doesn’t just call this a good man, but a gift from God. We all have stories of people who were not so good in our lives. Childhood bullies, difficult family members, and crazy parents at volleyball games are all examples of people who our minds may go to first. However, there are also many people in our lives who are blessings. These people help us along our way through life. They are encouraging, challenging, and are our friends. You probably have more good people to be thankful for than bad. It’s just that the pain of the bad experiences tends to rise to the top first. Who do you have to be thankful for today? You should let them know. ## Application: Contact someone today and tell them how much of a blessing they are in your life. Chances are, they need that encouragement more than you know. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for putting good people in our lives.