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Rejoice in Refinement

Ezra 3:11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: "He is good; his love to Israel endures forever." And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

The temple in Jerusalem was being rebuilt.  The focus verse comes after the new foundation had been laid.  Following this praise there were those who remember the original temple, Solomon's temple, and are sad and weep because their focus was on what the old temple was to them.  I found myself asking, "Which side would I be on? Would I be excited to build a new temple, or would I weep for the old?"  This got me to thinking in a figurative way with the old and new covenants.  There were those who did not want to give up the old covenant once Jesus made the new covenant complete.  However, Paul was very clear about how we are to handle this. "By calling this covenant 'new,' he (God) has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear."--Hebrews 8:13  If we accept the new covenant, than the old one must be put to rest, completely.  You cannot put them together.  As it was with the temple.  There was no way to put the old temple back in place and the new temple was helping the nation of Israel move forward.  How do you handle change?  Do you rejoice in new foundations or do you weep for the old days?  When it comes to your journey with God, do you think back on your life prior to Jesus with longing, or do you rejoice in the new creation you are?  Seems like a ridiculous question, I know, but in each every refining moment of your journey, can you honestly say you were joyful in the moment?  I don't know that I have been.  My hope is that you are rejoicing in the new creation and singing songs of praise and thanksgiving for the new covenant God has so graciously given us in Jesus Christ.  Rejoice in your refinement!
Image courtesy of Toa55

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