Restoration

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%2011-13;Psalms%20126&version=NIV

I'd like to focus today on the Psalm that accompanies our reading. Some of you might recognize it because there is a praise song we sing at Second that is based on this Psalm. It is a Psalm of joy for restoration. One of my favorite truths about God is that he is a God who restores. In fact, I've been speaking about that to a friend of mine lately who is in the painful process of watching God 'tear down' his son so that he can rebuild and restore.

Indeed, here lies one of the truths we read in this Psalm about restoration - that often destruction proceeds it. That's what is meant by "those who sow in tears will read with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him". God is a God who tears down so that he can rebuild. He brings destruction so that he can bring restoration. He allows ashes so that he can create beauty from them.

And here we see another truth about restoration. Through restoration out of total devastation, God's amazing glory, his redeeming mercy, his great work he does for his people is visible for all to see. Notice the Psalmist says, "Then is was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." Restoration for the Israelites brought honor to God among the nations. And so restoration of one of his children brings honor to God among those who live in the world.

That, my friends, is no remodeling job - that type of restoration is the tearing down of an outhouse and replacing it with a mansion. Friends, our God does not just stop at basic restoration. Instead he makes all things new! I pray that you would know that God can redeem any circumstance in your life today. He won't do it in a way that looks natural, but in a way that is supernatural - in a way that brings him glory. He will do it in a way that will be so much more than you imagined that you will think that you were dreaming. And so the third truth is this - a proper response to restoration is nothing less than joy, laughter, and praise and worship like there has never been praise and worship before.

Friends, I pray that God's restoration would be evident in your life and/or circumstance. But more than that, I pray the joy of restoration would move you to a level of worship that allows you to experience God in a way you never have before.