In our cell group last night we began into the book of Zechariah, a wee bit behind the rest of the church but sure!  Not to go into too much detail but the book begins with the Israelites back in their own land after being in exile for many years.   It’s clear from the beginning that whilst the people are ‘home’ in a physical sense to rebuild the city, they are ‘far from home’ in a spiritual sense.  They are far from God.  They had been ignoring God.  Spiritually speaking it appears that as a people they are little more than a pile of rubble in need of serious rebuilding work…

The people seem to acknowledge their need of repentance (1:6) and their need to turn back again to God.  As chapter one of the book unfolds (and some of it is difficult to understand) the most amazing picture of God is painted though the verses that we read.  We discover how God is jealous for His people.  It becomes clear that God wants to restore his people.  After all, these are His people.  He wants them to come to Him.  He wants to show His mercy.  God doesn’t want to leave things this way.  He’s not finished with these people yet…

As we engaged with Zechariah last night my heart started to literally pound with deep joy, with deep thankfulness, with a deep awareness that GOD IS GOOD.

I literally went home buzzin’.  Buzzin’ at the reality of a God who knows us.  Who loves us.  Who sees us through good days and who sees us through days of spiritual ‘rubble’.  I praise Him that he is merciful.  That He is jealous for me.  That He is a God of restoration.

Rubble.

What restoration work needs done in your life?

Trust our God.  Turn to Him.  And let the rebuilding work begin.