Who's Zerubbabel? I wasn't aware of him until I opened my bible the other day and decided to read what I opened it up to. Coincidence? No. I've read my bible cover to cover quite a few times but there is a huge difference between reading your bible and having God speak to you through it. God introduced me to Zerubbabel because he knew I would need this lesson just a few days later.
The last couple weeks were very difficult for me for many reasons. We all know that difficult times either set us running in our own strength or remind us to sit at the Savior's feet. I was pretty much winging it on my own. By that I mean that I didn't open up my bible or reach out for prayer... I felt myself sinking deeper and feeling more alone. Upon awakening this morning I felt the prodding of the Holy Spirit to get close to God but I chose to start a project first. Needless to say, my project turned into a hot mess and I just starting crying. While sitting at my desk with tears flowing I looked up and saw my bible open to The Book Of Ezra with the profile of Zerubbabel before me. The first sentence read, "Sometimes God's ownership of a project is only recognized after our best efforts have failed." My tears turned to laughter as I realized that the God of the Universe just spoke to me in a very personal way!
God's people had been exiled to Babylon for many years. In 539 B.C. Babylon was defeated by the Persian ruler Cyrus. He allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and Zerrubabel was the man chosen to lead the job. Long story short, he met some resistance and gave up on the project. His excitement turned to discouragement and hopelessness. It wasn't until sixteen years later that God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage him to restart and finish the temple. Zerubbabel lacked tenacity and faith when times got hard. When encouragement from the people stopped he stopped. He exhausted his own strength but did not turn to God for the strength to carry on.
John 15:5 says, "I am the vine; you are the branches.If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." As I sit here in Upstate New York looking out my window, my yard looks like a tornado hit. There are dead branches all over our property! They are no longer connected to their source of life so they must be burned because their purpose is gone. Staying connected to God's power, purpose and joy is a moment by moment choice. When what we have been called to do becomes wearisome, unpopular, lonely... it is only the choice of drawing near to him that empowers us. Galatians 6:9 reads, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up."
Zerubbabel may have given up but God did not give up on him. God will NEVER give up on us. His grace and mercy are bigger than us and he will always pursue us with his love. Seek him first, proclaim his might and find your strength in him. By the way, after I put God first and gave the project to him, it all worked out perfect.
Hebrews 4:7b, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."
The last couple weeks were very difficult for me for many reasons. We all know that difficult times either set us running in our own strength or remind us to sit at the Savior's feet. I was pretty much winging it on my own. By that I mean that I didn't open up my bible or reach out for prayer... I felt myself sinking deeper and feeling more alone. Upon awakening this morning I felt the prodding of the Holy Spirit to get close to God but I chose to start a project first. Needless to say, my project turned into a hot mess and I just starting crying. While sitting at my desk with tears flowing I looked up and saw my bible open to The Book Of Ezra with the profile of Zerubbabel before me. The first sentence read, "Sometimes God's ownership of a project is only recognized after our best efforts have failed." My tears turned to laughter as I realized that the God of the Universe just spoke to me in a very personal way!
God's people had been exiled to Babylon for many years. In 539 B.C. Babylon was defeated by the Persian ruler Cyrus. He allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and Zerrubabel was the man chosen to lead the job. Long story short, he met some resistance and gave up on the project. His excitement turned to discouragement and hopelessness. It wasn't until sixteen years later that God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage him to restart and finish the temple. Zerubbabel lacked tenacity and faith when times got hard. When encouragement from the people stopped he stopped. He exhausted his own strength but did not turn to God for the strength to carry on.
John 15:5 says, "I am the vine; you are the branches.If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." As I sit here in Upstate New York looking out my window, my yard looks like a tornado hit. There are dead branches all over our property! They are no longer connected to their source of life so they must be burned because their purpose is gone. Staying connected to God's power, purpose and joy is a moment by moment choice. When what we have been called to do becomes wearisome, unpopular, lonely... it is only the choice of drawing near to him that empowers us. Galatians 6:9 reads, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up."
Zerubbabel may have given up but God did not give up on him. God will NEVER give up on us. His grace and mercy are bigger than us and he will always pursue us with his love. Seek him first, proclaim his might and find your strength in him. By the way, after I put God first and gave the project to him, it all worked out perfect.
Hebrews 4:7b, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."
