Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 1-2

Ezra and Nehemiah’s stories are quite similar. While Ezra had returned to Jerusalem to teach the people and unify them in repentance, Nehemiah was still back in Persia serving as the cupbearer to the king. When news arrived that the Jews in Jerusalem were experiencing opposition, he mourned on their behalf. The Temple had been rebuilt in the midst of the opposition, but the wall of Jerusalem had been torn down and the gates had been burned. Without the wall, the city was vulnerable against future attacks.

IT WAS THE DESIRE OF NEHEMIAH’S HEART TO GO TO JERUSALEM TO HELP THE PEOPLE REBUILD THE WALL, SO HE PRAYED FOR GOD TO GIVE HIM THE DESIRE OF HIS HEART.

“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you…O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” – Nehemiah 1:5-6,11

An invitation was required in order to approach the king of Persia or engage him in conversation. Nehemiah would be in the presence of the king as his cupbearer, but he could not ask for permission to travel to Jerusalem without the king first speaking to him. An intervention of God was needed in order for Nehemiah to have the opportunity he wanted. God saw the desire of Nehemiah’s heart to serve his people and faithfully answered his prayer. The king noticed that Nehemiah had a heavy heart and asked him if he was troubled, giving Nehemiah the opportunity to ask for some time off to return to Jerusalem. Again, just like Ezra, the king granted Nehemiah’s request in a generous way because the gracious hand of God was on him (Nehemiah 2:8).

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he inspected the condition of what was left of the wall. He went back to the Jewish leaders and said: “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work (Nehemiah 2:17-18).

NEHEMIAH SAW A NEED, PRAYED FOR THE NEED AND THEN ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE PART OF THE ANSWER TO THAT PRAYER.

Now that’s leadership! Nehemiah sets a great example for us. That last part is where we sometimes miss out on an opportunity to be used by God. Nehemiah saw God’s movement, recognized that the gracious hand of God was on him and testified to the rest of his people of God’s faithfulness. His bold requests, his intercessory heart, and his testimony of God’s grace are what gave the people courage and inspiration to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, starting with its wall.

Father God, help us to be more like Ezra and Nehemiah. Help us to see the needs around us and respond with a willingness to be part of the solution. Give us a heart that unselfishly leaves our comfort zone in order to rebuild that which sin has destroyed. Give us eyes to see the need and ears to hear your call. May we have the courage to begin the good work today. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Ezra 9-10

EZRA LED THE PEOPLE IN THE CONFESSION OF THEIR SINS

Just as Ezra was able to ask for provision and protection for his people, he was also willing to humble himself and confess on behalf of the people. When Ezra arrived in Jerusalem, he found they had done exactly what God had told them NOT to do — they had married women from other nations who served false gods. Ezra could have washed his hands of all this sin and stood back in self-righteousness for he had not disobeyed God. Instead he tore his clothes, fell to his knees and lifted his hands to the Lord praying:

“O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens…once again we have abandoned your commands!…O Lord, God of Israel, you are just. We come before you in our guilt as nothing but an escaped remnant, though in such a condition none of us can stand in your presence.” – Ezra 9:6,10b,15

Ezra led those around him in the study of God’s word.
Ezra led those around him in prayer and fasting.
Ezra led those around him in the journey God had called them to.

But here is where I am overwhelmed by the humble actions of this man of God:
Ezra led his nation and his people in confession of their sins. He took the sins of the nation upon himself, taking responsibility for their sins and stepping into God’s presence in repentance of such sin, even though he himself had not disobeyed God in this way. This reminds me of how Jesus, who was without sin, was willing to die for our sins.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4:14-16

Let US approach the throne of grace so that WE may receive mercy and find grace to help US in our time of need. There is power in the unified voice of a community of believers who chooses to humbly confess together on behalf of the whole church.

While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. – Ezra 10:1

We sin as individuals and we go before God, humbly asking for His forgiveness. We sin as a family or as a church or group of people and we humbly pray for mercy. We sin as a nation and the appropriate thing to do is still to humble ourselves, fall on our knees in mourning and beg the Almighty God of Justice to have compassion on us and forgive us as a nation. Oh God, hear our prayers!!!

I WANT TO BE AN EZRA-LIKE LEADER!

I want to be like Ezra. What about you? Let’s join our voices together today and repent for the sins of our family, of our church, of our community and of our culture. Lord, forgive us for the many times we step out of your plan and disobey as individuals, as congregations and as a nation. Lord, give us mercy and grace in our time of need. Hear our cry for forgiveness and show us your grace and your mercy. Give us the courage to stand strong and give us the humility to bow in unison. We pray this in your holy name, Amen.

Today’s Reading: Ezra 6:15 – 8:36, Psalm 125

Who is this Ezra? Here are a few of my thoughts on the lifestyle and essence of Ezra.

This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him…This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel. – Ezra 7:6,10

EZRA WAS A STUDENT OF THE WORD OF GOD

He recognized that God had given the Law of Moses to the people of Israel for a reason and he was determined to STUDY it, KNOW it, and OBEY it in order to TEACH it. He saw the benefit of spending time studying God’s word in order to better UNDERSTAND God and His laws – to know God’s commands and obey them. He went beyond just being a hearer of the Word; he was a doer. He went past the purpose of learning for his own sake to becoming a conduit of God’s Word to others.

Because Ezra was dedicated to God and well versed in the Law, God blessed Ezra by giving him favor with the king for the benefit of all God’s people. Anything he asked for the king was prepared to give him BECAUSE the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him. Ezra recognized that this favor was of God and not based on his own worth or merit.

EZRA HUMBLY GAVE GOD THE GLORY

When the king said, “If you need anything else for God’s Temple or for any similar needs, you may take it from the royal treasury,” Ezra’s response was to praise the Lord. When the king recognized Ezra’s wisdom as having come from God, Ezra praised God for demonstrating such unfailing love to him by honoring him before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! “I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the Lord my God was on me” (Ezra 7:28).

Ezra’s humility, knowledge and wisdom situated him to be used by God in leadership. He was strategically positioned to be effective in God’s eternal plan. He gathered together some of the family leaders to return with him to Jerusalem. Before they began their journey, Ezra led the entire group in a time of fasting and humbling themselves before the Lord, praying that God would give them a safe journey and protect them, their children, and the goods they were bringing to Jerusalem.

EZRA LIVED OUT HIS FAITH IN HIS ACTIONS

Ezra could have asked the king for soldiers to escort them to Jerusalem with all of this silver and gold that would make them vulnerable against bandits and robbers on their four-month journey. It would have been a reasonable request. But Ezra once again saw the importance of living out his faith in his actions.

Ezra had previously testified to the King, “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him” (Ezra 8:22). Ezra knew that he needed to back these words up with faith in God so they fasted and earnestly prayed for God to take care of them, and God faithfully heard their prayer. At the end of the journey, Ezra was able to testify that God, rather than the king’s men, had protected them.

Lord, I want to be like Ezra. I want to be a student of your word, praying and fasting for Your guidance and protection. I want to live out my faith, not looking for human answers. I want to be a woman of prayer who looks to you for protection and for answers.

I WANT TO BE AN EZRA-LIKE LEADER!

Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion;
they will not be defeated but will endure forever.
Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.
The wicked will not rule the land of the godly,
for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.
O Lord, do good to those who are good,
whose hearts are in tune with you. – Psalm 125:1-4

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 12-14, Psalm 146

Ask the Lord for rain in the spring,
for he makes the storm clouds.
And he will send showers of rain
so every field becomes a lush pasture. – Zechariah 10:1

ASK THE LORD FOR WHAT YOU NEED DURING THIS SEASON OF LIFE.

Ask the Lord for what you need during this season of life. Ask the One who can provide what is needed to turn the brown grass of winter into the green pastures of spring. Bring your needs to the God who is both Provider and Protector — the One who can strengthen your weaknesses and restore you to wholeness.

“I will strengthen Judah and save Israel;
I will restore them because of my compassion.
It will be as though I had never rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God, who will hear their cries.
The people of Israel will become like mighty warriors,
and their hearts will be made happy as if by wine.
Their children, too, will see it and be glad;
their hearts will rejoice in the Lord.
When I whistle to them, they will come running,
for I have redeemed them.” – Zechariah 10:6-8a

The God who has redeemed us is calling us to Himself. He desires to restore us in order to bring us joy. He has been actively pursuing us since we were in our mother’s womb, and He continues to draw us into the relationship He created us for. So, when the waves are crashing in and the storm clouds are darkening, trust in your Redeemer to provide all that you need. Ask the Lord for what you need.

ASK THE LORD FOR WHAT YOU NEED DURING THIS SEASON OF LIFE.

“They will pass safely through the sea of distress,
for the waves of the sea will be held back,
and the waters of the Nile will dry up.
The pride of Assyria will be crushed,
and the rule of Egypt will end.
By my power I will make my people strong,
and by my authority they will go wherever they wish.
I, the Lord, have spoken!” – Zechariah 10:11-12

Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem!
Rejoice in the Lord your God!
For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness.
Once more the autumn rains will come,
as well as the rains of spring.
The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain,
and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil. – Joel 2:23-24

ASK THE LORD FOR WHAT YOU NEED DURING THIS SEASON OF LIFE.

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them.
He keeps every promise forever.
He gives justice to the oppressed
and food to the hungry.
The Lord frees the prisoners.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
The Lord loves the godly.
The Lord protects the foreigners among us.
He cares for the orphans and widows,
but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.
The Lord will reign forever.
He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations.
Praise the Lord! – Psalm 146:5-10

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 9-11

Rejoice, O people of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—
riding on a donkey’s colt.…
Because of the covenant I made with you,
sealed with blood,
I will free your prisoners
from death in a waterless dungeon.
Come back to the place of safety,
all you prisoners who still have hope!
I promise this very day
that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles. – Zechariah 9:9,11-12

THE LORD WILL APPEAR.

The Lord is coming. He is coming on a donkey. The Lord will come and free the captives, giving us hope. He calls His people to RETURN to Him so that He can SAVE them. The Shepherd GATHERS His sheep and RESTORES their beauty.

The Lord will appear above his people;
his arrows will fly like lightning!
The Sovereign Lord will sound the ram’s horn
and attack like a whirlwind from the southern desert.
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will protect his people,
and they will defeat their enemies by hurling great stones.
They will shout in battle as though drunk with wine.
They will be filled with blood like a bowl,
drenched with blood like the corners of the altar.
On that day the Lord their God will rescue his people,
just as a shepherd rescues his sheep.
They will sparkle in his land
like jewels in a crown.
How wonderful and beautiful they will be!
The young men will thrive on abundant grain,
and the young women will flourish on new wine. – Zechariah 9:14-17

THE LORD WILL CARE.

The Lord will appear, will sound the ram’s horn, will attack like a whirlwind, will protect his people, will defeat their enemies, will rescue. He will care for His flock, strengthening them and restoring them because He has compassion on them. He will come to redeem them, because He loves them. God’s people will shout in battle, will be filled, will sparkle like jewels, will thrive, and will flourish. How wonderful and beautiful they will be!

So I cared for the flock intended for slaughter—the flock that was oppressed. Then I took two shepherd’s staffs and named one Favor and the other Union. – Zechariah 11:7

But the sheep rejected the shepherd who had redeemed them. So the Lord took the staff called Favor and broke it. Then He took the staff called Union and He broke it. The Lord had made a covenant with them but it was now broken and they had lost his favor. Judah & Israel had been family and now their union was no more.

“Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.” – Zechariah 12:10

THE LORD WILL CLEANSE FROM SIN.

“Strike down the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered,
and I will turn against the lambs.
Two-thirds of the people in the land
will be cut off and die,” says the Lord.
“But one-third will be left in the land.
I will bring that group through the fire
and make them pure.
I will refine them like silver
and purify them like gold.
They will call on my name,
and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘These are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” – Zechariah 13:7b-9

Father God, we thank you for the grace you extend to us when we seek forgiveness. We are blessed by the ways in which you shepherd us and we thank you for your protection. Lord, thank you this morning for this reminder that you are a shepherd who loves us and who redeems us — a shepherd who was willing to rescue the flock marked for slaughter. We pray that you restore our nation back to a place of union and cleanse us from our sins, so that we can receive your unmerited favor. Amen.

“Listen to me, O Jeshua the high priest, and all you other priests. You are symbols of things to come. Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. Now look at the jewel I have set before Jeshua, a single stone with seven facets. I will engrave an inscription on it, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and I will remove the sins of this land in a single day.” – Zechariah 3:8-9

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 7-8, Psalm 109

As God’s people were returning from exile to a city and land that had been destroyed, they were discouraged with the work that lay ahead of them — the task God was calling them to. God reminded them, as He sometimes reminds us, that their current condition was a direct result of their own sinful decisions.

There are times when we choose to do our own thing, making a mess of what God intended to be a masterpiece.

“Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had sent them by his Spirit…Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to me, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. As with a whirlwind, I scattered them among the distant nations, where they lived as strangers. Their land became so desolate that no one even traveled through it. They turned their pleasant land into a desert.” – Zechariah 7:11-14

What was the message they had refused to listen to? What did they refuse to do that God was telling them to do? Look at the two verses right before this passage: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against one another (Zechariah 7:9-10).

SEEK TRUTH AND MAKE PEACE

God wanted them to put the needs of others above their own desires and they refused. God wanted them to honor the truth and love God by loving others. They chose self-preservation instead, only to find out that, by trying to build a life for themselves, they had instead destroyed their chance of truly experiencing life. They had turned their beautiful promised land into a desert. They made a mess out of what could have been a masterpiece.

God went from being an angry God determined to punish to a God of grace determined to bless His people once again. But his instructions remained the same as before.

“But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord…The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in early summer, midsummer, autumn, and winter are now ended. They will become festivals of joy and celebration for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace.” – Zechariah 8:16-19

LOVE TRUTH AND LIVE PEACE

God was ready to dwell among His people — to bless them with His presence — but He demanded they live in peace with one another and treat each other justly. Sometimes this is where we struggle in families or in churches. We pray for God to bless our efforts, to bless our growth, but we stubbornly hold onto grudges. We sit back and wait for someone else to come begging for forgiveness instead of seeking restoration with each other. Now that’s what I would call a mess — a missed opportunity to allow the hand of God to create a masterpiece. Truth and peace – God would love to turn our mourning into joy and celebration but we must first love truth and live peace.

REVEAL TRUTH AND RESTORE PEACE

When God lives among us, He creates a sense of community. You may say this is impossible for the group of people you are thinking of right now, but God says nothing is impossible for Him! Invite Him to dwell among you and He can REVEAL TRUTH and RESTORE PEACE into any situation. Look at what He did for the Israelites when they returned to their war-torn country.

“And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem…Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play…All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? Says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” – Zechariah 8:3-6

When we have fixed our relationships with each other and God’s presence is dwelling among His people, then we can be about the task of doing what God has told us to do! We must first obey God’s command to love Him by loving others and then we will be ready to follow His calling in our lives. Then, when PEACE IS RESTORED, He strengthens us with His presence and tells us:

“Be strong and finish the task!” and “So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!” – Zechariah 8:9,13

And this is my favorite part! When we are living in truth and peace, and God’s presence is living among us, it will become evident to all those around us. They will see the difference God’s presence is making in our lives and they will want to become a part of it. Instead of seeing a mess, they will see God’s masterpiece. As in Zechariah 8:23, people will see what we have and say, “Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

Oh, may God’s presence be evident in our lives today! May others see God living in us and among us in such a powerful way that they want what we have — God’s presence in our lives!

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 3-6, Psalm 87

God chose two men to play an important role in the rebuilding of the Temple and also in the rebuilding of the nation. He placed Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel as governor of Judah (you can find him in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1), and he installed Jeshua son of Jehozadak as high priest (Haggai 2:2).

The passage of Scripture in the third chapter of Zechariah beautifully describes how Jeshua was cleansed from his sins and called by God. Before you read the passage, I ask you to prepare your heart. Picture that this passage is about you. Satan is pointing out all the times you have sinned, revealing all your imperfections; but the Lord is rejecting Satan’s accusations, saving you from the pit of hell and clothing you with redemption. Claim this Scripture today and rebuke Satan for the ways in which he tries to discourage you and tell you that you are not worthy or capable of what God has told you to do. Put yourself in place of Jeshua the high priest, coming out of exile and receiving his call from God.

CALLED BY GOD FOR A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT

Then the angel showed me Jeshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Jeshua. And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.”

Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. So the angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And turning to Jeshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.”

Then I said, “They should also place a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes, while the angel of the Lord stood by.

Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here. – Zechariah 3:1-7

My love for you is passionate and strong. So take off the filthy clothes of your past. I have taken away your sins and I am giving you fine new clothes — priestly garments that come with a calling. SO follow my ways and carefully serve me, for I am giving you a job to do.

When the accuser tells you that you cannot do what God has called you to do or that you cannot live the holy life that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies expects, remind him of the Lord’s words to Zerubbabel:

It is not by force nor by strength, but BY MY SPIRIT, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain for him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone at the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!” – Zechariah 4:6-7

EQUIPPED BY GOD FOR THE CALL OF GOD

God had commissioned Zerubbabel to rebuild the Temple — not an easy task. God had commissioned Jeshua to rebuild the Temple worship — also not an easy task. But He was not asking them to do it of their own strength. In that regard, the Accuser is right. We are not capable of doing what God is asking us to do. At least not of our own strength. But God equips us, He fills us, He works through us to accomplish His will. Where there seem to be mountains before us, God is capable of leveling the path ahead. And WHEN GOD IS IN IT, GOD WILL BLESS IT!

“…But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I AM WITH YOU, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do NOT be afraid.” – Haggai 2:4-5

Be strong! I have cleansed you and clothed you in new garments. I am the God of what is ahead. I am in the middle of what I am asking you to do and I will bless it. I am the God of your yesterdays and you have been forgiven, so flee from your captivity and stop wearing those filthy clothes. Do not be afraid. I am with you.

Jesus, the name that charms our fears / That bids our sorrows cease / ‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears / ‘Tis life and health and peace / He breaks the power of canceled sin / He sets the prisoners free / His blood can make the foulest clean / His blood availed for me [O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, Charles Wesley]

Today’s Reading: Psalm 51 & 80

Return, rebuild, renew, REPENT.

Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.
Rebuild my house. Create space in your life to worship me. Be satisfied with me.
Renew your passion. Be strong in the Lord. Trust me. I will provide.
Repent. Turn from your sin. Return to me.

Then Haggai asked, “If someone becomes ceremonially unclean by touching a dead person and then touches any of these foods, will the food be defiled?”
And the priests answered, “Yes.”
Then Haggai responded, “That is how it is with this people and this nation, says the Lord. Everything they do and everything they offer is defiled by their sin.” – Haggai 2:13-14

In order for God to fully RENEW the relationship with His people, He needed them to REPENT. He reminded them of how little their crops produced before they rebuilt the Temple and asked them to look and see how He was now blessing them after the Temple had been restored. “Think carefully,” the Lord said. God desired to bless them but was requiring them to turn from their sin — to repent.

What does God want to do in our lives? In what ways does the Keeper of the silver and the gold — the Keeper of all blessings — desire to bless us?

Repent. Turn from your sin. Return to me and I will return to you.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. – Psalm 51:1-2

Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.
Make your face shine down upon us.
Only then will we be saved. – Psalm 80:19

RETURN, REBUILD, RENEW and REPENT.
RETURN – “Come away!” “Flee from your captivity!” Walk away from your sin and return to me.
REBUILD – Do the necessary work to RESTORE our relationship to where it once was.
RENEW – Make a new covenant with me so that our relationship can be renewed.
REPENT – Turn from your sin so that I can bless you the way I desire to bless you.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. – Psalm 51:7-10

Repent. Turn from your sin. Return to me and I will return to you.

Today’s Reading: Haggai 2, Psalm 48

Return, rebuild, RENEW, repent.

Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.
Rebuild my house. Create space in your life to worship me. Be satisfied with me.
Renew your passion. Be strong in the Lord. Trust me. I will provide.

You are getting what you deserve, but here’s how to deserve what you wish you were getting — Return to me and I will return to you. This is essentially what God was saying. God desired to lavish wonderful gifts on His children but He needed to get their attention because His intent was not only that they return to their land, His intent was that they return to Him. He wanted them to RETURN and REBUILD so that He could RENEW His relationship with them.

“Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.” – Haggai 2:3-5

I am here. My Spirit remains among you, so do not be afraid but pursue the calling I have placed on your life. Do not hesitate but follow me with strength and with zeal. Let your love for me ignite a passion within you to serve me.

Renew your passion. Be strong in the Lord. Trust me. I will provide.

The people began to fear the Lord and a new enthusiasm for building the Temple was ignited in their hearts. They finished the Temple but realized that the new Temple was nowhere close to the splendor of the previous Temple. God reminded them that He is the keeper of the silver and the gold (2:8). He promised them that a day would come when He would restore glory to His Temple beyond its past glory, just like He was restoring their hearts and igniting a passion within them.

Passion for your house has consumed me… – Psalm 69:9a

O God, we meditate on your unfailing love
as we worship in your Temple.
As your name deserves, O God,
you will be praised to the ends of the earth.
Your strong right hand is filled with victory.
Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice.
Let all the towns of Judah be glad
because of your justice.
Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem.
Walk around and count the many towers.
Take note of the fortified walls,
and tour all the citadels,
that you may describe them
to future generations.
For that is what God is like.
He is our God forever and ever,
and he will guide us until we die. – Psalm 48:9-14

Praise God! I am so thankful that our God desires a relationship with us. I am so grateful for His grace that renews a right spirit within us. We are so blessed to experience His Spirit living with us, who is producing a passion for the things of God. God is so good and we are blessed to be loved by Him.

As we enter a new season of life, let’s allow God to ignite a new flame inside of us and give us a new fervor for receiving all that He has for us. Let’s pursue His purposes in the midst of the chaos; let’s chase after our calling knowing that He is our God forever and ever, and we can trust Him to provide.

Renew your passion. Be strong in the Lord. Trust me. I will provide.

Today’s Reading: Haggai 1, Psalm 99

Return, REBUILD, renew, repent.

Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.
Rebuild my house. Create space in your life to worship me. Be satisfied with me.

The people had returned to Judah and started to rebuild the temple, but their enthusiasm soon turned to discouragement and then to apathy. They turned their focus to their own homes and started making a living for themselves without restoring worship back into the community. Here is God’s response:

“Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. Your drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes.”

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Army says: Look at what’s happening to you! Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. I have called for a drought on your fields and hills – a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.” – Haggai 1:4-11

Some were saying it was the wrong time to start rebuilding the Temple. The foundation had been laid but no growth was taking place. God’s people had settled for an altar on a foundation when God was calling them to so much more.

Rebuild my house. Create space in your life to worship me. Be satisfied with me.

Complacency had settled in and the people had made themselves comfortable. They had everything they needed – nice homes, food, drink, clothes, income — but they were not satisfied because the only thing that truly satisfies in Jesus. We can have lots of nice things and our basic needs can be taken care of, but it’s nothing if we are living in disobedience to what God has asked us to do.

So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. – Haggai 1:14

Lord, we pray that you will forgive us for our complacency and wake us up from our apathy. May we hear your voice today calling us to more — calling us to obedience. Lord, break down our resistance and spark a new enthusiasm in us. Help us to see the areas of our life that need repaired; help us to see the areas of ministry that need rebuilt, especially since the destruction of the recent pandemic. Wake up our churches that choose to slumber and give them a renewed passion for building your kingdom. Dust off our bibles and give us a new song. Let us never become so comfortable that we become satisfied with the bare minimums instead of growing in our relationship with you.

Praise him, O heaven and earth,
the seas and all that move in them.
For God will save Jerusalem
and rebuild the towns of Judah.
His people will live there
and settle in their own land.
The descendants of those who obey him will inherit the land,
and those who love him will live there in safety. – Psalm 69:34-36

Rebuild my house. Create space in your life to worship me. Be satisfied with me.