New Beginnings

There are times in all of our lives when we need a new beginning with God. A disappointment or trial may have caused you to drift from the close fellowship with God and His people that you once enjoyed. You need a new beginning!

But you wonder if it’s even possible. And if it is, where do you start? The thought of a new beginning is scary because you don’t want to risk another failure. But you’re not content where you’re at. You know deep inside there’s a better way to live your life.

God is a God of new beginnings! To the fallen but repentant King David, the prophet said, “The Lord has taken away your sin” (2 Sam. 12:13). To the disobedient and chastised prophet Jonah, “The word of the Lord came … the second time” (Jonah 3:1). To the weeping and broken Peter, the risen Savior appeared privately to restore him.

Have you failed the Lord miserably? God graciously offers you a new beginning!

In our study of Ezra, we saw that the very first thing that the leaders, Jeshua and Zerubbabel, did after they return and saw the pile of rubble where the Temple once stood was to rebuild the altar (Ezra 3:2). Even though the foundation of the temple had not been laid (vs. 6. First things first, they knew they needed to the reestablish worship to their God. 

The Altar of Sacrifice in Ezra 3 ultimately points to Jesus. That means to us that in our lives and in this church, Jesus will always be the Priority.

Let me leave you with some practical application:

New beginnings start when we return to God—not when circumstances improve.

The returning Jews faced rubble, resistance, and uncertainty. Yet they rebuilt the altar first (Ezra 3:2). Stop waiting for life to “settle down” before pursuing God again.

Press On,

Pastor Brian Richard