Scripture
In that day it will be said to Jerusalem :
“Do not be afraid, O Zion ;
Do not let your hands fall limp.
“The LORD your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. Zephaniah 3:16-17
Observation
The time this little love note was sent from the Lord to Jerusalem was for the days when refugees took trembling steps back into the ruined city. The walls were broken down, the buildings were ashes, the people were afraid to live in the town. Throughout the books of Ezra and Nehemiah there is a sense that the people felt vulnerable, small and pathetic. What they were building was claptrap compared with the memories of the old days.
But God was in the center of their city and that made all of the difference. He was a warrior and a husband. He would defend the city as no walls ever could do. And he would nourish his trembling bride with love and joy. Though it was ruins, somehow God was more proud of this city than he had been of the days before the destruction.
I think the same happens in churches today. Sure there are some remarkable megachurches where it is possible to get a little sense of the grandeur of God’s plan. But most churches are ordinary operations of small groups of familiar people. Like refugees building with cindered stones we can feel that our efforts are not quite good enough
What happens when we start feeling this way? Our hands fall limp. Instead of grasping hold of the things God has put in front of the church to do, we hold them loosely and pursue them half-heartedly. We feel small and act in petty ways.
There are times that the church needs to be woken up to just who she is and who the Lord is. The refugees are a bride and the warrior is her husband. There is a song in the air and that is the sound of God singing. The only time in all of the Bible that God breaks into song is to encourage his people.
Application
There is a song being sung right now. Can you hear it? It is a song to give hope to the heart and strength to our hands. There are works that the Lord has placed in front of us to do. We are not to be afraid of our smallness, weakness or inadequacy. He is more than enough. After all of the seminars, DVDs and books I wonder if pastors think that the solution to the needs of the people of their city or town is for their church to become bigger. Instead you want to strengthen our hands to do the thing that is immediately in front of us. Between Nehemiah and Zerubabel the city was rebuilt through ordinary people.
Prayer
Father, there are times I sure feel small. Today is one of them. And I’m sure there are many churches and pastors that feel the same. But through little people you accomplish great things. And I believe you will do those things through all of us. I ask that you would give me words to speak that strengthen the grip of your people to master the works you have called them to do. For as we learned in the days of Nehemiah, if we will only build our section of the wall the entire project will be done. Arouse your church and let us act like God is in the middle of what we are doing. Let us work like cherished people. Amen.
