What Lies at the Heart of Restoration. (Ezra 3 1-13)

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This podcast is entirely the work of Jeremy R. McCandless and is part of season 25 of a project to complete an in-depth, chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse study of the entire Bible.

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Episode Notes:

Have you ever watched a restoration project unfold?

Maybe it was an old house that fell into disrepair. Maybe it was a classic car sitting forgotten in a barn for decades. At first glance, all you can see is what's broken. Rust. Damage. Decay. Years of neglect. But then someone begins the work of restoration. Little by little, what was damaged begins to change. What appeared beyond repair starts to come back to life.

 The Bible tells us that we were created in the image of God. We were made for fellowship with Him. We were designed to reflect His character and enjoy His presence. But sin entered the picture. The image was not destroyed; it was marred. Our fellowship with God was broken. Something that was meant to be beautiful became damaged, and ever since, God has been in the restoration business.

 When we trust in Jesus Christ, that restoring work begins. We are forgiven. We are reconciled to God. But that's not the end of the process; it's just the beginning. God continues shaping us, changing us, and restoring His image in us throughout our lives.

 So biblically, what exactly is restoration? When we use that word, what do we actually mean? Is restoration simply fixing what's broken? Is it returning to where we were before? Is it recovering what we've lost, or is it something deeper than that?

 The nation of Israel gives us a remarkable picture of the answer.

In Ezra chapter 1, we saw God open the door for restoration. He stirred the heart of King Cyrus and then stirred the hearts of the people to return. 

In Ezra chapter 2, we met the people who answered that call. Thousands left Babylon behind and committed themselves to God's restoring work. But now we come to Ezra chapter 3; the people have arrived.

 The journey is over, and the work is about to begin. And here, perhaps more clearly than anywhere else so far in the book, we discover what lies at the very heart of restoration. And if we're willing to listen carefully, Ezra chapter 3 may teach us not only how God restored Israel, but how He restores us as well.

 Let's see what lies at the heart of restoration….

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