I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Zechariah 7-10

I am going to start with paraphrasing the first part of this passage: When we celebrate Christmas and Easter, when we give things up for Lent, are we really doing it for God?  If we are honest with ourselves we will realize that, for the most part, these celebrations and fasts are for ourselves, not out of obedience to God.  God’s message to us is, instead of those celebrations of our own wants and desires, let us show kindness to one another.  Instead of buying things made by what amounts to slave labor to give to each other, let us feed the poor (and I don’t mean ask our government to feed the poor).  Let us stop scheming against each other, seeking how we can trick people into giving us more power.  If we do not listen to God when He tells us these things, He will not listen to us when we call out to Him in desperation.

That first part is scary, but Zechariah goes on to give a message of hope.  He tells the people that when they started work on the Temple their resources were slim, but they listened to the prophets God sent them and started the work anyway.  Now God promises that He will reward them by bringing them plenty.  The same is true today.  We should do God’s work, even when it seems like  doing so will take resources we need to survive.  God does not call us to serve Him out of our spare time and spare resources.  He calls us to serve Him with time and resources we think we need for other things.  If we do this, He will be faithful and provide us with what we need in abundance so that we can serve Him more.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Zechariah 1-6

Zechariah tells us that God is going to come to live among us.  On that day, people of many nations will choose to join themselves to the Lord and God will add them to His people.  Further Zechariah tells us that God’s Kingdom will not be brought about by force, nor by strength.  God’s Kingdom will be brought into existence by God’s Spirit.  We see what God meant by that in Jesus’ birth.  When God came to live among us, He did not arrive as a powerful king, or mighty warrior.  He arrived as a baby, in a manger.  He was here among us, taught us His will, and achieved His great triumph.  But once again, His triumph was not one of a mighty general, a great Emperor, or even a wealthy business magnate.  His triumph came by dying on the cross.  The world is not transformed for the better by “punching a Nazi”.  The world is transformed when we channel God’s Spirit and love a “Nazi”, whatever other name you have for the ultimate evil in mankind.  Put your faith in God and love those whom you believe to be evil, knowing in your heart that God’s Spirit is able to transform them into good.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Zechariah 11-14

There is little in today’s passage which speaks to me today.  The main thing I want to focus on is what Zechariah writes about evil shepherds of God’s people.  From time to time, God appoints leaders over His people who are evil.  Such leaders do not rise to prominence in opposition to God’s will.  Rather, God appoints them to lead His people as punishment for their sins.  When the people of God are led by wicked, selfish people it is because they have become wicked, selfish people. 

However, I want to point out what Zechariah writes a little further on.  Yes, when God’s people allow themselves to fall into wickedness He will appoint over them wicked leaders, but in time He will pour out His Spirit on His people and draw them back to righteousness.  Revival comes about when each one of us is led by the Spirit to look at our own lives and allow the Spirit to cleanse us of our sins.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Zechariah 7-10

Zechariah asks an important question.  When we take part in religious activities and events, both celebratory and mournful, are we doing so for God, or for ourselves?  How we feel about and treat others who also take part in such activities will tell us the answer to that question.  God calls us to show mercy and kindness, and to love justice.  Let us not snark at those who are not “up to our standards” at a worship service or other religious activity.  Let us not do anything to make them feel out of place.  Instead let us honor them for their attempt to serve and worship God.  That does not mean that we do not instruct those who act inappropriately, but let us make sure that we do so out of love for them and not out of our own selfish pride.  There is a lot more to be learned from this passage, but I am going to stop here for today.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.  

Today, I am reading and commenting on Zechariah 1-6

This passage contains two sections which influenced, and are often connected with, the description of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in the Book of Revelation.  At one point Zechariah has a vision of a man on a red horse with other riders on horses of various colors behind him.  The number of riders is not mentioned, but one could easily read it to indicate a total of four riders (I think the passage suggests a larger number than that).  Then later Zechariah has a vision of four chariots, each pulled by horses of separate color from the others.  Both the horsemen and the chariot riders were sent out to patrol the earth.

Zechariah puts most of his focus on showing how God has blessed the two men most responsible for rebuilding the Temple after the Exile: Jeshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, the governor of Jerusalem.  These two men were blessed because they strove to do God’s will in rebuilding the Temple and to lead others to be faithful to God.  We can learn a lot from what Zechariah says about these two men.  God took away the dirty rags of Jeshua’s sins and dressed him in robes of righteousness.  Jeshua did not make or buy these robes, they were given to him by God.  The same is true for us.  Any righteousness we may have is not our own doing, but a gift from God.  Zerubbabel did not succeed by might or power.  He rebuilt the Temple by the Spirit of God.  We, also, will not accomplish the tasks God has given us by our power, might, or skill.  We will only do so as we allow God’s Spirit to work in us.