Heard from Afar
And the sound was heard from afar. (Ezra 3:13)
Ezra 3:11-13; Deut. 16:9-11; Psalm 5:11; Rom. 5:2; Phil. 4:4; I Peter 4:12-13
What Is God Saying?
People felt great emotion when the new foundation for the house of the Lord was laid. It was a time of celebration. Some wept. Others shouted for joy, and the sound could not be distinguished from the sound of people weeping. Either way, it was genuine, uninhibited emotion. It was like the opening of an escape valve. They could not contain themselves, and the sound was heard from afar.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Rejoicing is a universal and distinguishing characteristic of believers. ‘We rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God’ (Romans 5:2). Paul states, ‘Rej01ce in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice’ (Phil. 4:4). Rejoice in the Lord always, not just when things go well, but when things are not going well. Peter takes up the theme and shows that rejoicing as we share in Christ's suffering leads to our greater rejoicing when He comes again in glory.
We have been redeemed. We live with a purpose. We have a greater destiny than the silence of the grave. We have reason to rejoice. Our rejoicing will be heard from afar and near at hand.
Pray With Me
Lord, I ask myself how far the sound of my praise and the soundness of my life carries. I wonder whether someone has to be very close to me to see the light and to feel the warmth of the Savior's love. I ask if those close to me know that You are real. Do they know You are the object of all my affection, Lord of all my actions, source of all my hope? Let the sound of rej0icing reach farther than I dare to dream. Lord, fan these embers until my life sends a brighter, warmer glow.
• May no one perish because the word I should have spoken went unsaid.
• May no one be lost because the example I should have set was wanting.
• May no one take the wrong path because the light that should have been in me was too weak or too dim to be seen.
Let the influence of Christ in me and through me be as a sound heard far and near.
To reveal His glory and for His honor, let it be! Amen.
Moving On In The Life Of Prayer
Is our life radiant for Him? Can others sense our joy? Do we keep it hidden beneath a cloak of silence? Do we send a garbled message because of inconsistencies in our life? We have reason to rejoice. It is an integral part of prayer and living. When we leave the place of prayer, others will know that we are rejoicing by the radiance on our faces and the joy we give in thoughtful deeds and timely words of love and encouragement that come from our lips. Don't keep your rejoicing to yourself. Make it a consistent part of your prayer life, and it will become the real you.
