25 September 2013 - build the church, bless the nation

25 September 2013 - build the church, bless the nation

Thus he has given us new life
to raise again the house of our God and restore its ruins,
and has granted us a fence in Judah and Jerusalem.”

Let us not be too disheartened when we see ruins around us.  Whether, society, church, family, or even self, God wants to give us new life and restore these ruins.  He wants all of them to be a dwelling place for his very presence.  He does this in spite of the fact that we don't deserve it on any level.  Even though "our wicked deeds are heaped up above our heads" yet does he want to brighten our eyes and give us relief from our servitude.  The LORD may allow us to experience the slavery that our failures of obedience entail.  But he never withdraws his presence from us.  He empowers renewal with the rebuilding of his temple as the starting place.  He does not first restore the secular society, power, or wealth of Ezra and the Israelites.  He first empowers them to rebuild his temple.  He does so even in the context of domination by the Persians, through unexpected secular means beyond their control.

he has turned the good will
of the kings of Persia toward us.

He wants us to have the attitude of the psalmist who will praise him even in the land of his exile.  He wants us to know that it isn't any secular action upon which the health of society ultimately rests.  It isn't that we must first create good social structures by our own effort so that there will be a place for God.  We must first build the Church to bless the nation as Al Kresta has been saying (plug for the WDEO pledge drive).

In the land of my exile I praise him
and show his power and majesty to a sinful nation.

It is this attitude which underlies the command of Jesus to his disciples.

He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.

He needs them to understand the complete primacy that he and his gospel have.  It isn't ultimately dependent on preparations or supplies or anything else.  It is rather dependent on the power and authority of Jesus.

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.

He is generous in pouring out this power to build up his Church.  He loves his bride and will not fail to support her even in her exile.  For her part, she must turn to him as her pillar of support.  She often looks every other direction first, but only his love for her can give her salvation.

Blessed be God, who lives for ever.