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Cutting through the madness…. (devo reflection)

Zechariah 5:6 I asked, “What is it?” He replied, “It is a basket.” And he added, “This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land.”

In today’s reading, wickedness is personified as a woman. It made me wonder if that went back to Eve and the apple. But then two women with stork wings took wickedness far far away, which made me wonder if that had something to do with redemption.

Zechariah 5:7 Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman!

Then again, maybe I’m reading way too much into it. (I am an English teacher after all.) Evil, temptation, wickedness exist everywhere and in some of the most innocuous disguises. Redemption is also abundant and as easy as returning and repenting.

Zechariah 5:8 He said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down on it.

Lord, We try to make things so complicated sometimes. Thank You for cutting through the madness. Evil, temptation, and wickedness exist. They are everywhere. But You are bigger, greater, stronger. Your love is fiercer and more powerful. You’ve got Your beloved children securely in the palm of Your hand. Thank You. Amen.

Zechariah 5:9 Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.

Have a blessed day.

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How life is done…. (devo reflection)

Zechariah 4:2 He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps.

The end of Zechariah 4:6 says ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. That verse brings me incredible comfort. I’ve never felt particularly mighty or powerful. I’m definitely not competitive. If that’s what it takes to win at life, I stand absolutely no chance.

Zechariah 4:3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

But 2 Chron 20:15 says, “This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” It’s ok that I’m not powerful or mighty. It’s ok that I’m not competitive. That’s not how life is done. ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Zechariah 4:5 He answered, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I replied.

Lord, Your thoughts are not our thoughts. Your ways are far beyond anything we can imagine (Isaiah 55:8). Thank You for the truth of Zechariah 4:6. Thank You that the battle is not mine but Yours. Thank You that Your strength is perfected in my weakness. Help me to draw closer to You, to shine Your light, to comfort Your people, to glorify Your name. Always. Amen.

Zechariah 4:6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Have a blessed day.

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Quiet my soul…. (devo reflection)

Zechariah 3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.

Reading today’s scripture brought Exodus 14:14 firmly to mind: “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Joshua doesn’t utter a word in this exchange. He allows the Lord, the angel of the Lord, to fight for him.

Zechariah 3:2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

Maybe if we are on a holy battlefield with God and the devil that “be silent” part is easier. In life it’s often not. We feel the need to explain, to justify, to defend, usually to no avail. It makes me wonder how differently battles in my life, battles with human, fleshly, fallible people just like me, would turn out if I more often took Exodus 14:14 to heart, remaining silent and allowing God to fight for me.

Zechariah 3:3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.

Lord, You plucked me from the fire. You cleansed my soul and exchanged my dirty rags. You stood up for me in the face of Satan, claiming me as Your beloved child. And all You asked of me was repentance and return. You didn’t need my help at all. Yet still I feel the need to defend myself to others instead of being calm and quiet and letting You fight for me. Forgive me. Quiet my soul within me. Draw me closer to You. Amen.

Zechariah 3:4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes. Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”

Have a blessed day.

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In the presence of our Savior…. (devo reflection)

Zechariah 2:10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord.

Reading this section of today’s verse brought clearly to mind Matthew 1:23: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). God with us, God among us—to be in the presence of our Savior—that’s the goal, right?

Zechariah 2:11 “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.

But scripture also tells us that God IS with us. Always. Even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). He’s already here—in us, with us, through us, among us.

Zechariah 2:12 The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.

Lord, Thank You for Your word and for these things that I ponder in the quiet of my heart. Thank You that You are not only making a place for us (John 14:3) but also that You are with us, that You will never leave us (Deut 31:6, 8). My human mind can’t quite comprehend how all this is possible, but my eternal heart trusts You. Draw me closer. Amen.

Zechariah 2:13 Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”

Have a blessed day.

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An open invitation…. (devo reflection)

Zechariah 1:2 “The Lord was very angry with your ancestors.

As I read today’s chapter, it brought to mind an old Nike ad that begins “You do not have to be your mother….” It is easy to fall into old patterns of behavior, and I think that’s what’s happening to the Israelites here—they have reverted back to the ways of their ancestors, ways that did not work for their ancestors, ways that are not working for them.

Zechariah 1:3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.

The Nike ad goes on to say “If you inherit something, inherit their strength…their resilience…” God in verse 3 says, essentially, “If you keep on the path of your ancestors, it will end the same way. But if you return to Me, I will return to you.” It is an open invitation to depart from the ways that aren’t working and return to relationship with God, an invitation open to all.

Zechariah 1:4 Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.

Lord, Thank You for the ability to see You everywhere, even an old Nike ad. Thank You for an open invitation to depart from the ways of our ancestors, ways that aren’t working, to restore relationship with You. Give me the strength and wisdom to accept You with an open heart. Draw me closer. Amen.

Zechariah 1:5 Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever?

Have a blessed day.

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“Be strong…For I am with you….” (devo reflection)

Haggai 2:4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.

Lord, Thank You for speaking to my heart this morning. You know the task before me. You know I feel unequal to it. Thank You for sending me these words of encouragement. Help me to take them to heart, to be strong, to know, to trust that You are with me.

Haggai 2:5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

Lord, Thank You for the reminder that ultimately, everything I do is for Your glory. Help me to work diligently for the good of others but to never lose sight of the fact that ultimately, everything I do is for You. Help me not to fear my own inadequacies and to concentrate on the task at hand and on bringing You glory.

Haggai 2:9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Lord, Thank You for the reminder that it is not about me, it’s about You. Thank You for the reminder that I am Your hands and feet. Help me to keep my heart tied to Yours. Give me strength, wisdom, and guidance to help the people You place in my path. Help me to glorify You in all I do. Amen.

Haggai 2:19b …“ ‘From this day on I will bless you.’ ”

Have a blessed day.

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The faithful remnant…. (devo reflection)

Haggai 1:3-4 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

I assume that the group in Haggai 1 is the faithful remnant spoken of in Zephaniah 3. These are the ones who were going to be blessed because of their faithfulness, except they seem to be full of excuses about why they are focusing on rebuilding their own houses instead of the house of the Lord.

Haggai 1:5-6 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

As usual, my instinct is to lay into this foolish people, to berate them for being idiots. Can’t they see what they are doing? Can’t they see how ridiculous, how futile the path of making excuses to God? As usual, I am stopped in my tracks because I know I am guilty of the same things. Jesus, Help me.

Haggai 1:7-8 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord.

Lord, Once again this seems to boil down to pride—the pride of the faithful remnant, which causes them to put themselves first, my own pride which prompts me to jump to judgement. Forgive me. Help me instead to give careful thought to my ways, to get my own priorities straight, to stop trying to judge others and focus instead on You. Draw me closer. Amen.

Haggai 1:9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.

Have a blessed day. I love you.

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Such a gift…. (devo reflection)

Zephaniah 3:14 Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!

The beginning of this chapter is about what happens when God calls the unrepentant to account. It’s not pretty. But even in judgement, God restores the remnant who remain faithful. He still has grace and compassion for those who call on Him.

Zephaniah 3:15 The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.

Not only does He have grace and compassion for the remnant, not only does He remove their punishment and turn back their enemy, He reassures them that as His beloved, they have nothing to fear from others.

Zephaniah 3:16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.

Lord, You are the epitome of grace. You remove our sins from us so completely that You can and do rejoice over us with singing instead. Thank You seems so inadequate for such a gift. When I think of the grudges I hold in my heart against those I perceive have done me wrong, I am ashamed. Help me to be more like You, to drop my pride and love Your people with my whole heart. Amen.

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing

Have a blessed day.

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Lord, I need You…. (devo reflection)

Zephaniah 2:1 Gather together, gather yourselves together, you shameful nation….

Again, this chapter seems to be a warning of what happens when we come to the end of the Lord’s grace and compassion. Or perhaps it is a reminder that it *will* end, that the Lord will eventually settle accounts whether the people have chosen to repent and return or not.

Zephaniah 2:10 This is what they will get in return for their pride, for insulting and mocking the people of the Lord Almighty.

Again, there is mention of pride, but what else can it be but pride if they are still refusing God’s grace? Pride says, “I don’t need grace because I am enough, have enough, do enough without it.” Grace says, “My power is perfected in your weakness” (2 Cor 12:9).

Zephaniah 2:15a This is the city of revelry that lived in safety. She said to herself, “I am the one! And there is none besides me.” …

Lord, I need You. The truth of that statement is glaringly obvious most days. Thank You. On those days when my pride says I’m doing ok on my own, forgive me. I know that I am better with You than I could ever be without You. Draw me closer. Amen.

Zephaniah 2:15b …What a ruin she has become, a lair for wild beasts! All who pass by her scoff and shake their fists.

Have a blessed day.

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All the time in the world…. (devo reflection)

Zephaniah 1:4 “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place, the very names of the idolatrous priests—

I’ve mentioned the fact that I grew up with a mental image of an angry, wrathful God and that this reading through the Old Testament was surprising because, instead of this angry, wrathful God, I found, again and again, a loving, compassionate, merciful God. However, in Zephaniah, we see that God’s mercy and compassion are not infinite. Judgement will come.

Zephaniah 1:5 those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the Lord and who also swear by Molek….”

When we think we have all the time in the world, we tend to take it for granted. No worries if I don’t do it today (no matter what it is). I can always do it tomorrow. Zephaniah 1 is a reminder that tomorrows are limited, and it’s best not to put things off, especially getting right with God.

Zephaniah 1:6 …those who turn back from following the Lord and neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him.”

Lord, Thank You for loving us so much that You don’t force us into obedience but You also keep after us, trying to open the eyes of our hearts to You. Help us not to take You, Your mercy and compassion, for granted. Help us not to put getting right with You off until tomorrow because tomorrow isn’t promised. Draw us closer. Amen.

Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.

Have a blessed day.