December 22
Zechariah 2:1-3:10; Revelation 13:1-18; Psalm 141:1-10; Proverbs 30:18-20
What do you spend time focusing on? Do you fixate on past mistakes and things you wish you did differently? Do you focus on the present and everything you need to accomplish today? Or do you focus on the future and what is to come? What we spend time on will inevitably shape our hearts and our lives.
Zechariah is writing to a people who have returned from exile but live in unimpressive Jerusalem. Looking only at the present would have made the people discouraged and possibly doubt what God was doing among them. Zechariah draws the people to the future. He points out how God is going to restore and increase the greatness of Jerusalem. Further, he points out that the present shame that Joshua might feel will be overshadowed by the forgiveness that he will offer. Finally, he looks to the future and the Branch, Jesus, who will come to "remove the sin of this land in a single day." Though Jerusalem and the people's spiritual condition were not impressive, the future should fill the people with hope and joy.
Revelation 13 takes us from the unimpressive state of Jerusalem in Zechariah's day to a downright scary time for the world. The dragon and two beasts will run rampant over the world. They will increase the wickedness and idolatry to heights previously unseen in human history. They will oppress and persecute the people of God, leading some into captivity and some to the sword. Yet those alive at this time are told to look beyond their present chaos and embrace the "patient endurance and faithfulness" to which they are called. By looking to the end of the story they can still live with hope, no matter what each day brings.
So, let us be people who look beyond today and into the realities of eternity. Let the struggles of today not overwhelm us but instead walk in the hope and joy that eternity brings.
Father God, thank you for the hope of eternity. Help me to walk in the joy, peace, and life you make available to me during all of life. Amen.
Question: How would a greater eternal perspective help you to experience the abundant life that Christ died to make available to you?
What do you spend time focusing on? Do you fixate on past mistakes and things you wish you did differently? Do you focus on the present and everything you need to accomplish today? Or do you focus on the future and what is to come? What we spend time on will inevitably shape our hearts and our lives.
Zechariah is writing to a people who have returned from exile but live in unimpressive Jerusalem. Looking only at the present would have made the people discouraged and possibly doubt what God was doing among them. Zechariah draws the people to the future. He points out how God is going to restore and increase the greatness of Jerusalem. Further, he points out that the present shame that Joshua might feel will be overshadowed by the forgiveness that he will offer. Finally, he looks to the future and the Branch, Jesus, who will come to "remove the sin of this land in a single day." Though Jerusalem and the people's spiritual condition were not impressive, the future should fill the people with hope and joy.
Revelation 13 takes us from the unimpressive state of Jerusalem in Zechariah's day to a downright scary time for the world. The dragon and two beasts will run rampant over the world. They will increase the wickedness and idolatry to heights previously unseen in human history. They will oppress and persecute the people of God, leading some into captivity and some to the sword. Yet those alive at this time are told to look beyond their present chaos and embrace the "patient endurance and faithfulness" to which they are called. By looking to the end of the story they can still live with hope, no matter what each day brings.
So, let us be people who look beyond today and into the realities of eternity. Let the struggles of today not overwhelm us but instead walk in the hope and joy that eternity brings.
Father God, thank you for the hope of eternity. Help me to walk in the joy, peace, and life you make available to me during all of life. Amen.
Question: How would a greater eternal perspective help you to experience the abundant life that Christ died to make available to you?
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