Ezra Chapter 2. Brokenness = Restoration
A number of people who were once held captive by King Nebuchadnezzar returned to Jerusalem and Judah. Approximately 50,000 people returned so they could begin rebuilding the temple of God.
The people of Judah had been taken captive by their enemy Babylon, because they were not following the Lord. They rejected him. Now, God has set them free from captivity and is ready to begin using them to rebuild the Temple of God whom they had rejected.
It's amazing how God uses our brokenness in life as a means to help restore us into a proper relationship with him.
Difficult times are great opportunities to reflect on our lives. We begin to see how weak we are without the Lord. We begin to see we aren't able to control what happens in life. We began to see value in surrendering our lives daily to the Lord so he has control. Putting our daily walk in the hands of the Lord can bring us great comfort for we can learn that while our lives are in God's hands we can trust him no matter what. We can trust him when things don't seem to be going well at all and we can trust him when things seem to be going quite well.
1. So let us pursue God now with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
2. Let us not wait until disaster comes and then say, “Oh I need you Jesus.” Let's say it and live it now!
3. When we seem to be held captive in our lives, let us know God will rescue us but in his timing. Keep trusting him. It is during these times that we learn a lot about ourselves, our God, what's really important in life and our purpose in life.
 |
ReplyForward
|
Someone once said for every New Testament principle, there’s an Old Testament picture. So true … Ezra is our story. Paul said we are the temple of God (1 Cor 3:17) but before we opened our hearts to Jesus, we were in ruins like the old temple. We like God’s chosen then were carted off in captivity of our sin. I think the underlying message of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah is that the sovereign hand of God is at work in perfect keeping with His plan at the appointed time. (A good reminder in current times.)
I am reminded every time that I see a list of names in the Bible that while I wonder at the value …. God didn’t. God knows each of us as an individual. He knew us before we knew Him. Isn’t that incredible! He lists the names of those who were willing to leave the comfort of the known life in Babylon in order to make the tough journey back to Israel and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple … just as He lists our names in the good book. Never forget that we are heavenly people, just passing through this world. (Smile on my face; joy in my heart!)
I was reminded today of 2 Corinthians 5:1.
“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”