New Beginnings

Focus verses: Nehemiah 12:27-43

The rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem marks the beginning of a new era in the life of the children of Israel. They have been in exile in a foreign land and have returned to their homeland. True, they are still under the rule of a foreign king, but he has allowed them the temple and temple worship.

The completion of the wall is cause for great celebration. Choirs and musicians paraded around the wall in opposite directions, ending at the temple.

The people brought the tithes into the storehouse to fill it. And the book of Moses was read again.

The book of Moses was their law - their bible.

We don't have to wait for a public celebration to read the Book of God's Laws. We have access to the Bible at all times. Many of us have several different translations of the Bible available to us. There is the "original" King James, the New International Version, the New American Standard Bible, the Amplified, and the list goes on. They range from The Message, which is more nearly paraphrase than translation, to Young's Literal Translation, which reads a little awkwardly because it is word for word.

We have these riches and this cause for joy at our fingertips. A morning begun with reading the Book of God is a cause for celebration. God's mercies are new every morning.

He wants us to begin each day with Him as a clean slate, trusting Him for this day and not worrying about tomorrow or fretting over yesterday.

Father, God,

Help us to see each day as a new beginning with You. Let us leave our confessed sins in Your hands. Remind us that we are not promised tomorrow. Keep us on the faithful path, just for today.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Restoration And Rebuilding

Focus verses: Ezra 3:7-4:5

After seventy years of exile, the children of Israel are allowed to return to their homeland. King Cyrus of Persia not only restores the people, but he also returns the sacred vessels that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple.

Very shortly after their repatriation, the Israelites built an altar for their sacrifices. And they collected donations toward the rebuilding of the temple. Fourteen months after their arrival back home, the rebuilding of the temple began. It seems the people were all of one accord on this because everyone participated.

By the time the foundation was laid, there was a huge celebration. There were shouts of joy from the younger people. But those who were old enough to remember the temple before its destruction responded with tears.

I would imagine that their joy was bitter-sweet. They were probably ruing the lost years. Seventy years of exile because of their faithlessness. They might have been rejoicing that there was a new beginning. And perhaps they were thinking of the work ahead and the probability that the younger people would not have a complete appreciation of all that entailed.

Restoration is a wonderful thing. It is a chance for a new beginning. God wipes the slate clean and allows a fresh start. But restoration comes only after a loss. It is the fruit of grief. Therefore it is not an unmixed blessing.

You can be sure that once God has restored something to you, the enemy will be on hand to see that the restoration is not completed.

Look at the verses in Ezra 4. First the enemy comes to "help" with the work. And when their help was rejected, they started scheming how to discourage the workers and hinder the work.

Our major task in restoration and rebuilding is not to let the enemy discourage us. We must keep our eyes on the task ahead and move forward without hesitation. If we stay focused on the Lord and the work He would have us do, we will remain faithful. When we allow distractions to enter the picture, we have begun the fall into infidelity yet again.

Father, God,

Keep us ever faithful to Your plans. Let us not be drawn away by the enemy, either by dissuasion nor temptation. Strengthen our heart and hands to Your service at all times.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Seeking Him

Focus verses: Isaiah 55:6-13

"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near."

This verse seems to carry a timetable. "While he may be found" implies there will be a time when God will no longer be "findable."

That doesn't necessarily mean that God will change. I believe it means there is a time when we might quit seeking. We might let the things of this world mean so much to us that we no longer have the desire to seek Him. At some point we may become content with the status quo and not look for anything beyond ourselves. Eventually we harden our hearts to the point where no one could drag us to the Lord with a winch.

The verses that follow challenge us to come out of ourselves and become what God would have us to be. He has a vision for each of our lives that is beyond what we can hope or imagine. If we fall back into the "content with what is" category, we will never realize the full potential that God has given us.

He assures us that His word does not come back void, but it accomplishes the purpose for which He sent it forth. When we take God at His word, we can never be disappointed. The vision He will give you as you seek Him will come to fruition in your obedience.

There is a promise of joy and peace in our obedience to Him. And there is also exultation. In the words of the song "The hills are alive with the sound of music." We have been promised a celebration. Let's party.

Father, God,

Thank You for being as near to us as our next breath. Keep our hearts soft and searching to know You better, to hear Your word more precisely, to move in instantaneous obedience to Your directives.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Rejoice

Focus verses: Exodus 15:1-18

The song of Moses is the first recorded song in the Bible. It is a paean of praise to the Lord in response to their deliverance from the Egyptians.

It will be quite some time before we see the principle in Psalm 22 that God inhabits the praises of His people. But here we are in the midst of a celebration. There is singing and dancing and much rejoicing.

When was the last time we rejoiced simply in Who God is? Not for what He's done for us nor what we want Him to do for us, but simply in Him, because He is God.

We work for Him; we read His word; we serve on committees. When do we sing, dance and revel in nothing but the presence of the Lord?

I know that schedules are tight, and people are busy. But we need to schedule some time for just enjoying God's presence. Time to sit at the feet of the Master and bask in His smile. Time to hear His voice and feel His live.

Father, God,

Help us to make time with You our first priority. Not time for prayer and supplication, but time simply to be with You.

In Jesus' most precious name,
Amen.