Daily Devotions with Pastor Jim Cymbala

The people rebuilding the temple faced a new obstacle when the Israelites’ enemies sent false accusations to the king in an attempt to stop the work. Their story reminds us that false claims and twisted truths can be used to discourage us and hinder what God is doing. We must not let the lies of others or the accusations of the enemy shake our confidence in what God has called us to do.

When the Israelites refused an alliance that would compromise their commitment to God, their opponents tried to discourage and intimidate them to stop the work. We, too, can face opposition when we stand firm in our convictions and refuse to compromise our faith. Discouragement has the power to damage families, divide churches, and keep us from fulfilling what God has called us to do. We must stand firm in God’s promises and keep moving forward, trusting that our strength comes from the Lord.

As we seek to do God’s work, we must be careful about the alliances we form and the compromises we allow into our lives. Just as the Israelites rebuilding the temple faced opposition disguised as an offer of help, so we can face temptations that slowly pull us away from God’s truth. We must remain discerning and guard our hearts against anything that dilutes our faith or distracts us from the work God has called us to do.

As the people of Israel continued to rebuild the temple, their emotional response was to celebrate what God had begun. Sometimes we focus so much on what is missing that we overlook what God has already provided. We can be thankful for the foundation He has laid in our lives and for those who have helped build our faith along the way. We must never despise small beginnings but praise God for what He has started and trust Him with what comes next.

In Ezra 3:10–11, the people rejoiced and praised God as they laid the foundation of the temple, giving thanks even though the work was not yet complete. Their example reminds us to be thankful for what God has already done, even while He is still working in us and through us. God has called us to do His work with grateful hearts in every season. Let’s give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His love endures forever!