The amazing intricacy of God's work - Ezra 6:1-2

Strange verses to highlight? No. God had sent the exiles back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the city, but difficulties had arisen and the hearts of the people had strayed. But now, through Haggai and Zechariah, God had told them to start work again. It was going well,. but then opposition arose again. But, in explaining what they were doing, they mentioned that King Cyrus had commanded them to rebuild. In previous years the investigation that was then requested by the opponents would have generated only opposition. But Darius had become King (v1), and the Persians had taken Babylon in such a way that all records had been preserved. And more, he had seen Daniel's witness, had seen God's power and so he ordered a proper investigation. Just as well ... although he ordered the archives in Babylon to be checked (v1), it was further away that the documents were found (v2). And so the work was not only able to continue but given total authority.

What we see is the intricacy of God's work. His timing in bringing His word to the prophets, His work in softening the hearts of the returned exiles, bringing repentance and a commitment to do the work of God, His placing of Daniel for Darius, His work in Darius' heart, His working so that the documents were found even though not in the place they were ordered to look, and His enabling and enpowering of work on the Temple and Jerusalem. All this came together 'at just the right time'. The opposition that looked like disaster God used for His purposes. He had put all the pieces in place at the right time to completely work out His will.

Facing things that look like a problem? Seems like God is not working as you would wish? Being faithful to God but not seeing quite what He is doing? All these are Ok ... God is on His throne and working out all things well!

Three Points of Comfort in God - Psalm 75:1-2,9

In a time of panic, God's people have every reason to react entirely differently. These verses help us see how. There are three good reasons given:

1. 'Your Name is near' ... We have a God who has made Himself known to us, has revealed His love towards us in Jesus, and covenanted His love towards us ... He will never leave us nor forsake us, and we are hidden within the stronghold of His love. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. This is His perfect love that drives out fear.

2. 'People tell of your wonderful deeds' ... He is a God who works in mighty ways. He has told us that He will shake the nations so that the desired of all nations will come into His Kingdom. He does this through many means, even through the fallenness of this world. He is sovereign God. Like Jesus, resting in a boat in the middle of a storm, we can rest in God's sovereign purpose and authority.

3. 'I choose the appointed time' ... We have a God who rules over all of time. The Psalmist in Ps139 reminds us that every day ordained for us was planned before one of them came to be. Our times are in His hands. He has numbered our days. Our life will not end until the time He has ordained. But this verse also speaks of the time of God's judgement. That reminds us that it is God who ordains even that final time and that even then, if we are in Christ, all God's just anger over our rebellion has been spent on Jesus - we are the redeemed. So, whatever the times are, we are secure in Him and need not fear.

There is one result of knowing all this in Jesus ... The Psalm starts and ends with praise. Even in the worst circumstances, God's people can be a people of praise because we know the certainty of God's love, power and authority. So, let's be the people we ought to be in Christ even when all around us fear.

A Famine to Fear - Amos 8:5,11

In a day when regular Church attendance by God's own people is going down, these words of Amos remain hugely relevant. When we spend the day God has given us to worship Him thinking more of the other things we could be doing for our own 'profit' we have forgotten that our greatest, our only eternal, profit is Jesus

We do not gather to tick a box, but to enjoy the presence, hear the voice and be reminded of the mission of the one whose love for us is perfect. When we think little of such a privilege, or even despise it (if not in words but certainly by our actions), we need to consider the alternative ... a famine of hearing God's word, His loving voice, His gentle leading, His compassionate words of peace.

If we are those who truly 'love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength', then our hearts will long to spend time with God and with His people, and will shudder at the thought of being cut off from hearing his voice.

This passage in Amos was a call of love to a loved but foolish people, ... and it still is.

A Heart seeking Jesus - 2 Chronicles 12:14

Uninspiring verse? Actually, no. For every believing Christian it should both warn and inspire.

You see, being a Christian is about an intimate relationship. It is living and walking with the Lord that is the privilege of the true Christian.

A relationship is always an act of the will as well as of the heart. And therefore as we come to Christ we are not only led to trust in Him but to walk with Him, following him where He leads, joyfully doing what He desires.

Any vital relationship chooses to keep the heart steadfast on the one who is loved, and to turn from other calls. So, to not have a heart set upon the Lord is to have a 'roving eye', looking for other loves. We cannot say that we love Jesus if we're also looking elsewhere. And an intimate relationship with Him requires that He is our only love.

So, there is a warning here ... Is my heart set on Jesus, am I looking only to Him? And there is huge inspiration ... A heart set on Jesus (which is not difficult because this is the work of His Spirit in us), as His heart is set on us, leads to that close walk that every Christian should hunger for.

Go and tell - Acts 5:20-21

The Apostles had just been arrested and would be tried the next day. Opposition was arising all the more. These were dangerous times. But the Lord's command through the Angel was simple: "Go ... and tell the people about this new life".

It wasn't to be done inside their churches or in backstreets, but where everyone gathered, and where the opposition seemed to be the strongest. Why? Because we have a God who longs to save. He is enthroned, and He laughs at the schemes of men against Him (Ps 2). He is mighty to save! And so we are not to hide in the shadows and cower in fear, but to go and proclaim the gospel - His New Life - wherever and whenever we can. It is only in obedience that we will see His salvation power at work through us.

We are in a day when people will not easily come into church buildings to hear about this new life we have in Jesus. His command to go does not diminish in times of opposition, but rings all the louder in our days.