tender renewal

They will call upon my name,

and I will answer them.

I will say, ‘They are my people’;

and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

Zechariah 13:9b

This is the tenderness of a covenant relationship. God sought for closeness with Israel. But in context of this prophecy, what it would take to get a remnant back into this state would be nothing short of intense judgment from God’s hand. Look how it is described:

• Idolatry would be thrown down (13:2a).
  
• False prophets would be silenced (13:2b-6).
  
• Leaders would be struck down (13:7).
  
• Two-thirds of the nation would be killed in the siege (13:8).
  
• One-third that survived would be refined by trial (13:9a)
  

It is sad that this is what God would have to do in order to get the attention of His own people. It serves as a warning about how hard-hearted and broken we are by sin’s dominion. And it reminds us today of how blessed we are in a new covenant when all such judgment has been poured out on the cross in the sufferings of Christ. Yet we too must head these warnings:

• We must guard against heart idols (1 Cor. 10:14).
  
• False teachers will try to deceive Christians (2 Pet. 2:1-3).
  
• Leaders are vulnerable to deception and must protect the flock (Acts 20:28-31)
  

Lord, we thank You that Jesus has borne our judgment. May our hearts be tender as Your people. You are our God. We are Your people. Help us guard, reject false teaching, and humbly obey You, Lord! Amen

The greatest loyalty

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:26

The strong words here show that Jesus takes seriously the commitment of His disciples. His statement is nothing short of a demand for supreme loyalty. But this is in no way a call to hostility… it is, as noted, an invitation to loyalty. “Hate” here is a Hebraic way of conveying that loyalty. It means there is a greater commitment to Jesus than to any other human relationship. The disciple places following Jesus above all other loves. We still love family. We supremely love only our Savior with a type of love belonging only to Him.

Luke’s words when compared to Matthew 10:37 show us this comparative loyalty and love. In Matthew Jesus says that anyone who loves family more than Him is not worthy of Him. Discipleship is bound to following Jesus by the highest love. Thus, followers of Jesus love Him most.

The real test comes when loyalties come into conflict. Jesus will always ask us to love Him rightly first. Family may not do so. If family demands turn in any way from us following the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Jesus, we must choose the Lord. This is the cost of discipleship in human relationships.

That final phrase… “even his own life”, shows that this is all about personal surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our desires, our ambitions, even our own survival all must be subordinate to the love and obedience of Christ. Thus, living as a Christian disciple of Jesus is the highest commitment that directs every other facet, relationship, and love in my life.

From tears to harvest

The LORD has done great things for us;

we are glad.  Psalm 126:3

When God brought Zion home again,

We dreamt beyond our years of pain;

Our mouths with sudden laughter rang,

Our tongues awoke, and gladness sang.

Nations saw and stood amazed:

“The Lord has worked!” Their voices praised.

For mighty things our God has done;

We rejoice in victories won.

Restore our fortunes, Lord, we pray.

As streams in deserts flow our way;

Let mercy flood our thirsty ground,

May songs resonate where sorrow did resound.

Those sowing seed with falling tears

Shall reap with joy in coming years.

Though weeping, now they bear the grain,

Their faithful sowing not in vain.

They shall return with songs of praise,

With gathered sheaves and glad displays;

The fields once watered by their woes

Shall yield the joy that God bestows.

Strong enough to walk

“I will make them strong in the LORD,

and they shall walk in his name,”

declares the LORD.

Zechariah 10:12

God supplies the strength His people need. For believers today this enablement is found solely through Jesus’ death and resurrection because we receive full forgiveness of all our sin and new abundant and eternal life. Our hope is always found in the strength of the Savior Who rescues and sustains all who repent of sin and trust Him as Savior and Lord.

We can walk in Jesus’ name even when our own strength is weak. In fact, walking is the dominant metaphor to help us understand what it means to live out our faith in Christ. Just as we have received Him by faith, so we also walk by faith. He provides the direction in His Word and the empowerment of His Holy Spirit to help us to so walk in Him. We belong to Christ. His strength is sufficient for each next step we take. We trust His strength, rest in His work of love, and follow Jesus!

determined

He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.  Luke 13:22

This isn’t just a travel report. It is a record of the determination of Jesus. He did not merely meander through Galilee and Judea. Every step took Him closer to Jerusalem where betrayal, rejection, suffering, and crucifixion awaited Jesus. Yet on this path He kept teaching, proclaiming the kingdom, and healing those He met. Even though Jesus knew the certainty of what was ahead in Jerusalem, He did not falter from His commitment to His mission. The road to Jerusalem led on to Calvary and Jesus walked it willingly. This was more than a trip to a city. It was a journey to fulfill the Father’s redemptive plan. Jesus moved steadily toward the place where He would die for you and me.

Lord,

I thank You that salvation rests upon the unwavering obedience of Your Son rather than my fickle unfaithfulness! I struggle with costly obedience but Jesus did not. Every step He took there shows His love for those He has redeemed. He calls me to now follow in devotion. I can walk in obedience because my Lord Jesus walked to Jerusalem! 

Amen

goodness and beauty

On that day the LORD their God will save them,

as the flock of his people;

for like the jewels of a crown

they shall shine on his land.

For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!

Zechariah 6:16-17a

Here is a beautiful picture of God’s salvation! Zechariah describes the Lord rescuing His people as a shepherd saves his flock, then honoring them as precious jewels in a crown. These aren’t two different groups of people, but the same people viewed through the eyes of their Redeemer.

We are helpless sheep who need rescuing, yet God regards those He saves as precious treasures. This is the wonder of the gospel. It is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd Who laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). We were not rescued because were were valuable. We are instead made valuable because we have been rescued! His gracious love and power gives us a worth and dignity we could never earn. We are now radiant trophies of His grace… made beautiful by the blood of the Lamb.

The prophet exclaimed: “How great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty”! We too see that goodness and beauty in the splendor of our Redeemer. The cross reveals both to us: God’s goodness is saving undeserving sinners and His beauty in the selfless sacrifice of our King. On day the Shepherd Who laid down His life will display us, His redeemed people, like jewels reflecting the glory of His grace. Even now there are glimpses of such glory in the church, the Bride of Christ. We are jewels transformed by grace. We are treasured people reflecting Christ’s glory.

Ready

You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.  Luke 12:40

Am I ready

to see Jesus?

Am I ready

for His trumpet sound?

I want to

please Him

and to hear

His “well done”.

I believe

He is returning

His church, His Bride

to claim,

The world

in judgment burning;

Christians rescued

through His name.

Are we ready

to see Our Savior?

Will we rejoice

to see our Lord?

He will judge

thoughts and behavior

as is promised

in His Word.

So ready

to live forever.

So ready

to be free

from sin and sorrow

with our Savior!

Made to love Him

for eternity!