Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site.
– Ezra 2:68
This Sunday, Biblical history will repeat itself right here in Katy at Memorial Lutheran Church, just as it has in other places and at other times.
Long ago, God’s people saw a need for God’s house to be repaired and renovated, to be restored to what it once was and thereby leave a legacy for generations to come who would worship the one true God in that place.
With their example before us, we—the families of Memorial—will have the opportunity to come to the house of the Lord and make our own freewill offerings and pledge our commitments over the next three years to repair and renovate the place of our worship and fellowship and service to God’s Kingdom and thereby leave a legacy for the generations who will follow us as disciples of Jesus.
But more than just seeing a need, the people of Israel saw a divine grace that returned them to God and returned them to their homeland after years of reflection and repentance. The families who made their offerings made them in thanksgiving for God restoring them to himself.
For us today, we can do no less. Through God’s gift to us of His own Son, Jesus, and His life, death, and resurrection, we have been restored to God. We have been forgiven and given new life in Christ, a life filled with his love and mercy without end.
More than just seeing the need for work to be done on our facilities, what we actually see every time we gather is divine grace. It is his grace and the working of His Spirit that gathers us in the first place. It is his grace that gives us a place where we can freely hear His Word and learn of His wonders. It is his grace that moves our hearts to give freely, thankfully, and generously to bring honor to Christ’s name in this special place he has given us.