Ezra 3, Revelation 9:13-21, Revelation 10, Proverbs 27:5-14
Ezra 3:12-13 (ESV)
“But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’
houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they
saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy,
so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the
sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and
the sound was heard far away.”
In Ezra 3:12–13, the Old Testament scribe Ezra describes the
varied reactions of the Israelites as they laid the foundation of the new
temple. The older priests, Levites, and heads of families wept as they
remembered Solomon’s temple. At the same time, the younger generation shouted
with joy, having no memory of the first temple and feeling filled with hope and
renewal. Ezra presents these mixed emotions as natural, because restoration
often brings both grief and joy.
These verses remind us that any significant change in a
believer’s life can stir mixed emotions. Earlier this year, changing churches
filled me with many of those same feelings. I felt sadness leaving my old
church because of the friendships I had formed and the memories I cherished
there. At the same time, I felt joy knowing I had found a church that would
help deepen my faith and strengthen my relationship with the Lord and the Holy
Spirit. Like the Israelites returning from the Babylonian exile, I was laying a
new foundation in my life.
The church I previously attended was quite large and offered
many programs. My new church, though smaller, continues to grow each week and
feels much like an early church from the book of Acts—alive with faith and
marked by regular testimonies of God’s work. Ezra reminds believers that even
amid change, Father-God’s faithfulness remains constant. In both past and
future, God is with us. We are called to trust in His promises, because they
bring hope and encouragement through every season of change.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel compelled to
place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who walks with us through every
change in life—this could be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him
through the following prayer and express your trust in Him. Share your desire
to walk with Him and welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and
ready to meet you wherever you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for
all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart
that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is
my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of
salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made
new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of
Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit-filled, full-Gospel,
Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s
love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
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