Prayer – Lord, I’m sorry for not listening to You—or for not
digging into Your word and really taking the time and effort to understand it
and apply it to my life. There are widows, orphans, and poor out there whom I
could be serving for You…and I just haven’t done it. Shame on me. Help me get
my fingers out of my ears, hear those who need help, and to reach out to them.
The LORD of Heaven's Armies sent me this message in reply:
"Say to all your people and your priests, 'During these seventy years of
exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and in early autumn, was it
really for me that you were fasting? And even now in your holy festivals,
aren't you eating and drinking just to please yourselves? Isn't this the same
message the LORD proclaimed through the prophets in years past when Jerusalem
and the towns of Judah were bustling with people, and the Negev and the foothills
of Judah were well populated?'" Then this message came to Zechariah from
the LORD: "This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: Judge fairly,
and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans,
foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other. Your ancestors
refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their
fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. They made their hearts as hard as
stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the LORD of
Heaven's Armies had sent them by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. That
is why the LORD of Heaven's Armies was so angry with them. Since they refused
to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to me,
says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. As with a whirlwind, I scattered them among
the distant nations, where they lived as strangers. Their land became so
desolate that no one even traveled through it. They turned their pleasant land
into a desert." Zechariah 7:4-14 (Underlined for emphasis.)
Meditate.
Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.
 |
| Do you put your fingers in your ears... with fireworks? |
When
was the last time you actually put your fingers in your ears? It was probably
because it was just too noisy—like when my husband sneezes—not because you were
blocking out something you didn’t want to hear…or was it? Do you intentionally
refuse to listen to what someone is saying? I know that I sometimes do that—I
just concentrate on what I’m doing and ignore everyone what everyone around me
is doing or saying. Sort of selfish of me. It's hard to admit that I’ve been
selfish—just self-centered isolating myself from others…and even from God. Do
you ever feel that way?
Zechariah
had a powerful message to take to Jews, but it was the same message as
always…always and forever. Repent. God wants His people holy and respectful of
Him. They were failing at that, as usual. In verses twelve and thirteen he says
that they hardened their hearts against the Lord, so the Lord didn’t listen to
them either.
They made their hearts as hard
as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the LORD
of Heaven's Armies had sent them by his Spirit through the earlier prophets.
That is why the LORD of Heaven's Armies was so angry with them. Since they
refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to
me, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.
Once we, too, were foolish and
disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our
lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—"When God
our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the
righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our
sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously
poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his
grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit
eternal life." Titus
3:3-7
What a gracious God we have! Forgiving and
loving. If you haven’t started a relationship with Him…Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit…then reach out to Him today. Just as Jesus called…Repent of your sins
and turn to God (Matthew 4:17) we have that opportunity now. Build a bridge
within your heart to the Lord. We can choose to listen and obey…or be like
those Israelites to whom Zechariah prophesied as they harden their hearts. What
will you choose to do? Listen or put your fingers in your ears?
Verse of Salvation ~ Cry out, "Save us, O God of our
salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your
holy name and rejoice and praise you." 1 Chronicles 16:35
Reused and recycled from May 17, 2023
© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless
otherwise noted.
New King James Version ©
1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Harper
Collins Publisher. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
New Living Translation (NLT) copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by
Tyndale House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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