Readings for today: Zechariah 8-14
I love these words from Zechariah today, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” (Zech. 8:23) Can you imagine? Can you imagine a day where God’s people are so marked by His grace and peace and steadfast love and righteousness and holiness that people from every tribe, tongue, and nation on the earth would lay hold of us just to be in God’s presence? Can you imagine a day when the culture wars cease and the perpetual outrage cycle ends and people turn in exhaustion to those who walk humbly before their God? Can you imagine a day when we lay aside all our selfishness, greed, lust for power, and love of deception and instead cling to those who follow Jesus?
The Apostle Paul says, “All creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God.” (Romans 8:19) The whole world is looking forward to a day when the people of God, filled with the Spirit of God, will answer the call of God and walk in the ways of God to fulfill the mission of God. Read that sentence again to yourself. Read it slowly. Read it carefully. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, the message is clear. The world is waiting for you! The world is waiting for me! The world is groaning under the weight of sin, longing for release! Longing for freedom! Longing for the day when the people of God will take up their mandate once again to care for and steward all God has made, especially the creatures made in His image.
This is God’s plan. He reveals it clearly to His prophet. Over and over again, Zechariah declares the truth of God. Over and over again, Zechariah proclaims the promises of God. The Lord will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. (Zech. 8:3) The Lord will save His people and gather them from the east and the west to live with Him in Jerusalem. (Zech. 8:7-8) The Lord will return in righteousness, humble and riding a donkey. (Zech. 9:9) The Lord will make His people like jewels in a crown. They shall shine like stars in the land. (Zech. 9:16) The Lord will protect His people. He will make the weak as strong as David. The strong like angels in all their glorious splendor. He will pour out a spirit of grace and mercy upon them. (Zech. 12:8-10) The Lord will do all these things and more as He establishes His reign and rule over all the earth. (Zech. 14:9)
Friends, the message to us could not be more clear. We are to live as citizens of heaven here on earth. The church is created to be a community of life in the midst of a culture of death. We are called to be salt and light in the world. We must live and love and serve and speak in such a way that those around us who do not yet know God will sense His Spirit within us. Today is an opportunity for us to walk with Christ. Today is an opportunity for us to be like Christ. Today is an opportunity for us to share Christ with those around us who do not yet know God so that they too may experience the joy and peace and grace that comes with His abiding presence.
Readings for tomorrow: Esther 1-5