Share Life: 40 days of Prayer

Day 8 - March 1st 2007

Ezra 6:13-22

Can you see in this passage how the work of God is always made visible only through the effort of many (rather than the one)? Haggai prophesied. Cyrus gave approval. Tens of thousands gave offerings. Darius confirmed Cyrus’ decree. Craftsmen contributed.

The celebration was equally collective. “…the sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles celebrate the dedication of this house of God with joy.” The visible expression of God’s work isn’t accomplished by single individuals. That’s why the church is called a body, with many parts working in concert to carry out something greater than any individual could do on his/her own. We need each other! Each contribution of time, finances, and spiritual gifts, contribute to what Paul calls the ‘building up of the body’ so that Christ can be seen more clearly. All contribute. All celebrate.

No celebration would have been more poignant than the children of Israel celebrating the Passover. Remember, these celebrants had themselves been exiles in Babylon, even as their forefathers had been enslaved in Egypt. Longing for their homeland, they had now been granted the opportunity to return. Nothing is sweeter then coming home from exile! And there’s no more powerful reminder that the homecoming, even in the Old Testament, was bought with a price – the blood of a Lamb.

The word that governs today’s passage: JOY. It’s that which belongs to us as God’s people when we become aware, not as a doctrine but as an existential reality, that we are the recipients of incredible blessings ONLY because of God’s grace and the sacrifice of Another.

Someday, if the Lord wills, we too will celebrate the completion of a visible project. My prayer is that we too will long to see Christ’s blessings made visible in our city, and through us to far corners of the world. I look forward to a time of worship whereby we too acknowledge that all we enjoy, including the privilege of serving Christ and worshipping, are gifts that have come through the shed blood of another. Soon we’ll receive communion on the new foundation as a reminder that Christ’s shed blood is, in every way, the foundation of all our lives are to be about.

posted by Richard Dahlstrom @ 4:10 PM