8-11-2015

 Good Morning All!!

           Ezra 3:3; “They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening.”

    This verse is part of the return.  After the Temple was destroyed, after Jerusalem was destroyed, after the 70 years of exile in Babylon, a remnant of the people returned to Jerusalem.  They came home to start over.  They came home to rebuild.  Some were born in Babylon and didn’t know where they were really going; only knew that mom and dad called it home.  The elders called it home and it was where their faith said was home.  The oldest of the group remembered Jerusalem and the Temple but it was a long time ago.  They were home but they were afraid.  They looked around and saw nothing.  There were no walls, there was no city, there was no army.  They felt exposed to all kinds of threats.  It might have been roving bands of thieves.  It might have been a different foreign army; it might have even been wild animals.  One good thing was that their fear drove them to God.

    When you face fear, or disappointment or discouragement; where do you turn?  Some turn to drugs and alcohol, some turn to a false direction or path that leads them to greater despair and sorrow.  Yet it is always amazing how many people will turn to God when everything falls apart.  Sometimes this is part of the process.  God strips away the things that get in the way of you and me recognizing that we live by God’s grace alone.  While some will call to task those who are slow to turn to God it is really only hurts those who try and carry the burden of this sinful life on their own shoulders.  Jesus has already done this and when we look to him in faith; he will carry our burdens as well.

    The thing we need to do is to rebuild our altar.  The Israelites in our verse did it out of fear of an unseen enemy.  We can as well.  We do not see the devil that we fight for it is not of flesh and blood.  The devil is crueler than any human enemy that we have.  Yet remaining close to     the altar of God will keep us safe.  We will rest in the shadow of his wings as his loving arms shield us.

    So if you have let your altar crumble, it is never too late to rebuild it.  God invites you to return.  He sent Jesus to make it possible.  First we must repent of our sins and shed all evil in our heart.  We need to listen to God’s words of forgiveness and know that Jesus is Lord.  We need to read his Word and turn to him in prayer so that we engage in that holy conversation with him.  Above all, we need to trust his promised mercy and know that his love for us never dies.

Father, lead me to rebuild my altar so that I may be drawn closer to you.  Keep me in the ways of your righteousness and keep me safe from the devil’s attacks.  Guard those who are under severe attack at this time.  Give them peace and comfort.  Keep the safe.  In the precious name of Jesus I pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret