Some of the Jews had never seen their homeland. They had been born into captivity. Yet the Lord freed them from their bondage. They're in their homeland, free from their captors, able to freely worship the Lord and make offerings. We could agree there was reason to celebrate and be thankful, right?
"They sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, "For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever." And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy," Ez. 3:11-12
The older people weeped because the temple wasn't as grand as the temple prior to the captivity. They let the things of the past determine their worship and thankfulness of fheir today. They overlooked the Lord's blessings.
What about us? Are we thankful and worshipping today regardless of our yesterday or expectations from the past? Be thankful for what you have today. Worship Him for His lovingkindness today!
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.