"Thanksgiving for Restoration"

PSALMS 126 [A Song of degrees.]

  Something that is easily overlooked in our lives as believers, is that wonderful work that was done in us the day we first believed. I don't know how it was for you, but for me, my excitement for being saved could not be contained. It is believed that this Psalm might have been written by Ezra; who, in case you missed my introduction to the Psalms, is believed to be the one who arranged the Psalms in the order we have them now. Whether that be true or not is really not that important, except that this was a very important time in the life of Israel and their being restored after their captivity in Babylon. If you stop and think about it, our lives have so much in common with what that speaks to, the redemption of a soul that has been separated from the One who made it; there is nothing more vital to a lost soul than to be reunited with God! But this is just not about restoration, this is about us being thankful for having been redeemed; and not just for our inner man to be thankful, as if it is kept inside and all to ourselves; this is about thanksgiving that causes the lost to take notice, where those that do not know what redemption is like, begin to wonder how they can get some theirselves. As I examine my life, I pray that it would display the thankfulness of my heart; that people would see my hope being expressed as hope that has been realized and not as hope that is far off and distant. If you catch my meaning. We that have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, we are not waiting for redemption to happen, as if our salvation is far off; we are restored right now, the very moment we first believed! That was Paul's point from Galatians 6:15, it is the new creature that has been created in Christ, that is what matters now, more than anything else! Whether we be Jew or Gentile, or whatever else you previously claimed to be; in Christ we are made new, forever more to be in the Body of Christ...

"In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the LORD fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and send it throughout his kingdom: "This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: "The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem."" (Ezra 1:1-4) NLT