A Vision To "Rebuild" In The Year 2023
In the year of 2023, we are aware of having learned so much about God and His people in the past year. A crisis such as the recent pandemic has truly brought out the best and worst in many of the people around us. We have experienced great wisdom and courage and also surprising dysfunction all in the same setting.
It has been the best of times and the worst of times! In any case, we enter 2023 encouraged by the faithfulness of God and eager to rely on the power of God in the months ahead. As leaders, we will share our vision and our godly influence with those whom we serve. In the scripture passage selected for our 2023 theme, we see godly Zerubbabel working to REBUILD the House of God at Jerusalem.
The people of God in Judah had gone through a time of transition, dislocation and disruption, but by the context of our scripture, God has regathered them with a glorious destiny to experience a future glory which will surpass anything they have seen in the past.
Much of the church world is in a situation like this at present, including our church as well. To His people, the Lord sent the prophet Zechariah to reassure and encourage the chief builder, Zerubbabel.
God told him that the work would be magnifcently completed not by human might, not by human power, but by the Spirit of God!