“This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’” Zechariah 4:6-7 NLT

     Like Zerubbabel, a few of us may get to help rebuild something tangible and beautiful, like God’s temple in Jerusalem. Most of us, however, are occupied with the seemingly mundane task of rebuilding our lives.
As God revealed to Zerubabbel, the work of restoration is not by force or strength, but by His Spirit. Willpower alone won’t work. Instead, we ask Him to fill us fresh and we pay attention to His Spirit’s gentle urgings. This is His work and we are His servants.
Amazingly enough, God’s interest today is not rebuilding a temple in Jerusalem. His interest is in building you and I – the temple of His Holy Spirit! And we will only be enthusiastic about the venture if we really believe that He has chosen us to be His beautiful home.
Every day, our attitudes, thoughts and behaviors can build up and beautify God’s home in our hearts. And how we treat our body is how we treat His temple!
Let’s ask Him to help us see the glory of His work in us. May we see the beauty in our persistence, our generosity and our patience with the process. For if it happened overnight, we would miss the growth in character – the crowning achievement of God’s work in us.
Zerubbabel’s temple was destroyed, but your temple will last forever!
And let us not lose heart, because God is committed to laying the last stone and He will bless it!

Thanks to MK Khoza for writing the basis of this post. God bless you all today!