Six:Eight

New opportunities await those in the new year who keep their eyes on Jesus by developing healthy habits of turning the pages of Scripture to find our place and purpose in the story of God. As Believers, we’re given God’s manual on finding hope and are invited to turn the page to unpack its message, valuing the opportunity to receive new life in Jesus, and appreciating the gift of growing in biblical knowledge.

Have you weighed the short term opportunity cost with the longterm benefit of life in Christ!?

We’ve been talking about the Exiles returning to Jerusalem to relearn how to worship God during the time of Nehemiah. The exiles had come back to a world that seemed quite foreign. What they needed was a reminder of how to celebrate God’s work and all the new ways He was showing faithfulness to provide them hope. We will find our way back to worship and trusting God’s presence when we learn to open our eyes to the marvelous ways God has brought us victory, both now and in the future!

We’ve been talking in this series about the Exiles returning to Jerusalem to relearn how to worship God during the time of Nehemiah and Ezra. Worship which requires the proper perspective of God’s character. Until we can see God as glorious, we can’t possibly approach Him in worship. We must trust God is active in everyday life if we’re to sense He’s called us into His presence.

The story of Ezra speaks to the need for genuine repentance when sin has nearly ruined us. Acknowledging that their sin had left them spiritually bankrupt, the exiles had to admit their failures and go to extreme measures to correct them. When God calls us to turn back toward Him so we can accomplish what He has set for us, we must be willing to make significant changes to honor Him.

After the exile, the people were hungry to worship God fully and correctly. The rebuilding of the Temple wall afforded the people the opportunity to honor God’s Word in ways that hadn’t been experienced in years. When God calls us from exile into community centered around His Word, there’s reason to worship - when our hearts are committed to honoring the Lord, we celebrate Him as never before.

When Israel returned from exile, they had to relearn how to worship God. Nehemiah had rebuilt the wall in Jerusalem; now it was time to restore worship. In these verses, the exiles are reminded that true worship is both volitional and rooted in deep appreciation of the Scriptures. If we are to worship God as He deserves, then we must consistently open our hearts to hear the Scriptures.

Today we talk about the 3rd circle in our 3 Circle model, the Gospel, which allows us to recover and pursue God’s design for our lives & help others do the same.

God has a design for our lives, but we depart from His design & end up in brokenness. Last week we saw how Jesus left us with a mission to make disciples of all peoples. To tell them the good news that God made a way for them to live the way they were designed to live. We’re learning a relational, conversational way to bring them the help they need through the Gospel of Jesus.

God has a design for our lives. Everything Jesus did & said is of utmost importance; we make it our goal to be as familiar as possible with Him & His teaching. But, if last words are important, His last were our call to be His witnesses to all peoples. Today’s the beginning of 3 weeks of simple training to do that by way of the 3 Circle model.