QT: Celebrating the results and the means to that
Celebrating the results and the means to that
https://www.esv.org/Ezra6:16–22
Week 20: 10/05/2023. Wed
For your mental health, do you keep firm in your mind God's work done in your lives, and the way this was effected?
Ezra 6:22 And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had made them joyful...(ESV)
Great joy was experienced by Ezra's community because they could celebrate both the results and the way that was attained. The temple has been completed. They were also aided by the king of Persia who now ruled over the jurisdiction of king of Assyria.
Believers of Jesus Christ can similarly celebrate both the result and the means. In the past, it took the Exile to get rid of their deep seated idol worshiping habits. For NT believers, we see that even though Jesus' crucifixion was after a mistrial by Pilate that breach many rules of natural justice, we see how God had acted through others, even pagans, in achieving His will.
In fact, "suffered under Pontius Pilate" appears in the creed read each month at service. Just think about it, a pagan's name appears in the Apostles' Creed.
As we await the heavenly worship in the new heavenly Jerusalem, we need not wait until that day to celebrate the moving forward of God's works in our midst, and the frequent creative and unimaginable ways that God worked to bring about the wonderful end of His provident will. Rejoice today.
