We Heard that God is With You

Scripture: 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.’ Zechariah 8:23

Observation: Zechariah is prophesying about a future day of blessing that God will visit upon his people. Here, I think he is talking about the day of Pentecost, where God’s people were so filled with His spirit that as they go out into the streets, people from every nation wanted to go with them because it was so obvious God was with them.

Application: “Let us go with you, for we heard God is with you.” I have lived in my neighborhood for 2 years now. What have my neighbors heard about me? That I am a nice guy? That my kids go to school down the street? That I am the man with no grass in his yard? Have they heard God is with me? What will be the result of God putting a family of believers in a neighborhood for two years? Impact, or irrelevance?

Prayer: God, I fear I have not been intentional enough about my neighborhood. I get so caught up in my house being a refuge for me, that I fail to see it as an opportunity. Would you help me be more mindful of my neighbors, and how I can extend the heart and hands of Christ to them?

Facing our Accusers

Scripture: Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. Zechariah 3:7

Observation: After years of unrest, stability is starting to come back to God’s people. Under the new preaching ministry of Haggai, people are starting to come back to the old truths, starting to rebuild the temple. Zechariah has a vision of Joshua, the high priest, standing in heaven. Joshua is on trial, with Satan as his accuser. But in a dramatic courtroom turn, God turns to Satan before he can even open his mouth and rebukes him. God orders that Joshua’s filthy clothes be removed and replaced with brand new robes. Then he promises that if Joshua will obey him and keep God’s calling, he will find leadership, acceptance, and he will have a voice in the heavenlies.

Application: Over the last month, I feel I have been under Satan’s accusations. Except they are coming from people. It has been a struggle to listen, to care, to try to mend fences. I have not always done well. But today I think God is reminding me that these accusations do not come from people, but from the accuser of the brethren. My job is not to defend myself, but walk in God’s ways and keep his charge. I can let God rebuke whom he needs to rebuke. I can trust that God will provide the leadership, acceptance, and access to Him that I need to carry out his work.

Prayer: God, help me walk in your ways and keep your charge. Give me courage to stand amidst the accusations. Give me grace to respond, but let me trust you for my defense. And help me turn to the access I have in you for the grace and courage I need.

With or Without You

Scripture: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. Revelation 21:3

Observation: After the final destruction of Satan, sin, and death, God creates a new heaven and earth. The hallmark of this new forever is unhindered fellowship with God. God with us, is now a reality like never before. God with us has always been the goal, from the garden to eternity. But sin has kept us from this. Jesus came to be God with us, but still our fellowship was challenged by the world, the flesh, and the devil. Now that all three are gone, the ultimate goal of all of God’s promises—God with us, can begin.
Ephesians tells us that our sin has separated us from God, leaving us without hope and without God in the world (2:12). In the end, all of life comes down to the question: Am I with or without God in this world? To be without God in this world means we are without hope, because we face an eternity apart. To be with God in this world holds great hope that we will experience God with us forever.

Application: I want to start seeing people the way Jesus saw them—helpless and harassed, without a shepherd (without God) in this world.

Prayer: I pray you help me see people the way you do—either with or without You in this world. And give me opportunity to share the shepherd with them.

Prophet or Performer?

Scripture: And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. Ezekiel 33:32

Observation: The prophet Ezekiel was calling people to change. And the people were listening. But they were listening to Ezekiel as they might listen to an entertainer at a concert. They liked his style and tone, but were not moved to act. One day, God promised, they would look back and realize they were listening to a prophet, not an performer.

Application: I feel a pressure often to perform on stage. That people have a certain expectation of my sermons, and they sit as critics, rating what I do. Some want more stories, some want less challenge, others want more “meat.” I think there is a place for me to really listen, and try to meet the needs of the people. But there is also a place for me to get with God, and godly counsel, and speak what he has put in my mouth. These are some important times for our church, and I have been charged by God to say some challenging and hard-to-swallow things. I need to trust that one day, the actions and words I use will be regarded as right.

Prayer: I pray today that I would be moved by the compassion of Jesus, to have the courage of Jesus, to lovingly say what I need to say. Help me listen to those who are hurting or confused. But keep me on course with Your truth. Help me make sure I am listening to your words and responding to them myself.

Determined to Discipline

Scripture: The LORD determined to lay in ruins the wall of the daughter of Zion; he stretched out the measuring line; he did not restrain his hand from destroying… Lamentations 2:8

Observation:
1. God determines to discipline his people.
2. God measures out his discipline to an exact amount needed, no more, no less.
3. God is willing to mete out harsh discipline to his loved ones.
My discipline of my own children is often haphazard, depending on my mood, frustration level. Often I feel my discipline is too light or too tough, but rarely just right. But God is always right on target. He knows what is needed to bring about the change he desires.

Application: Jessica is leaving town for the weekend tomorrow, leaving me alone with the kids. It is during these long periods that my tolerance drops, and I tend to discipline out of my flesh, and not God’s spirit. I want to embrace the coming weekend as a time for me to parent in the spirit.

Prayer: God, I yield myself to you for this coming weekend. I pray I will experience your patience. Help me have self control. I want this to be a fun time for me to have with my kids. I trust you to give me wisdom to discipline like you, determined and right on target.

The Divine Epitaph of a Leader

Scripture: Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. 2 Chronicles 36:5

Observation: Often repeated in scripture is this sentence summarizing the reign of a king of Israel or Judah. The sentence follows this same formula, only the names and dates are changed. ____________ was ____________ years old when he began to reign, and he reigned ____________ years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. An entire king’s reign is held up to one standard. Structures could have been erected, treaties signed, wars fought and won…all of these achievements are not important enough to make it into their divine epitaph. All of the things that would have been great or small in the eyes of men are immaterial. Only one criteria exists: Did they do right or evil in the sight of God?

Application: If this is the evaluation standard of my leadership, then I must be about doing what is right in the sight of the LORD my God. This means making the tough decisions, holding fast to the course. It means being willing to endure criticism from others, willing to act with integrity, expecting to be believed, and when I am not, trusting that the divine epithet to set things right. It means seeing my leadership as a temporary trust, one that I will one day hand off to another. What will my divine epitaph read?

Prayer: God, I pray for the eternal perspective of history and your final commendation. It is not history, but You that will determine my actions and decisions. May I be counted as one who kept the commandments of God and held to the testimony of Jesus.

It's Not Fair!

Scripture: Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? Ezekiel 18:29

Observation: Ezekiel is talking about how those who repent will be forgiven, even if they have lived a wicked life. Apparently, this did not sit well with God’s people, who believed more in karma than grace. In their minds, God was valuing a moment of repentance over (in their minds) a lifetime of obedience. This is the prodigal son’s brother, angry over how unfair the father is for forgiving repentance and not valuing obedience.

But God points out the irony of this attack: People who are not just are accusing God of not being fair.

Application: God is just. I am not. Just yesterday, I was going off about another person’s actions, indignant that they could act in such a way. Yet even while I was talking, I heard a small voice pointing out the same hypocrisy in my life. Is my life living with justice? Am I quick to accuse others, or even God? Maybe I need to scale down my indignation and look at my own life before I go on the warpath.

Prayer: God, help me to be humble today, not quick to judge motives and actions. Give me compassion today. May I yield and submit to your authority. You are just in all you do. Help me live like I believe that.