Ruins to RestorationSample
PRAYER:
PRAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD HELP YOU TO TRUST GOD TO WORK ALL
THINGS TOGETHER FOR YOUR GOOD.
DEVOTIONAL:
At this point in the story, the Jewish people were likely feeling quite discouraged. They had
been stopped from rebuilding the temple that they had come back from exile in Babylon to
rebuild, and are likely wondering whether God was still really working on their behalf. How
could God be working things together for their good if they can’t even rebuild His temple?
However, this new king of Persia, King Darius, writes a new decree, a new law, into effect that
allows for these Jewish people to begin rebuilding the Temple once again.
This is so encouraging for every believer in Jesus because we can see a foreshadowing of the
work of Jesus on the cross. Several times, Jesus refers to His body as a temple that would be
destroyed but rebuilt in three days (referring to being crucified on a cross but resurrecting from
the dead three days later). It is because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that
we can believe with confidence that God will ultimately work all things together for our good. At
times, it may not look promising, but we know as believers that just like Jesus was raised from
the dead by the glory of the Father, we too can walk in the newness of life!
Question:
Do you really believe that God will work all things together for your good? If not,
what is hindering you from having that level of faith in God?
About this Plan
Through this seven-week journey through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, you will experience the reality that God can take the ruins of our lives and restore them into beauty!
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