#2171 – New Things

Good morning people who look forward rather than looking back

Ezra 3:11-13 (NIV) With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: He is good; His love toward 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. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

“Are we people who celebrate the new things God is doing or people who continually look back to the ‘good old days’?”

God IS doing something new and it WILL be different to what He has done before. This is the nature of our God. He is still a Creator.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

God invites you to look forward with anticipation and celebration.

Looking back is only limiting you from seeing the goodness of God today.

So here’s my bold challenging question to you: “Where are you looking? What are you celebrating?”

People of God, let’s not be cynical, critical, judgemental or comparative to the ‘good old days’. Sure, God did do some wonderful things ‘back then’ and I am thankful. But God is moving forward and we need to join Him. Furthermore, those who are hearing the new thing and taking bold new initiatives need your support and commitment.

Let’s be part of the new thing! Let’s celebrate the change! Let’s be big picture people who let go of our preferences for the furtherance of God’s kingdom and the transformation of lives!