Zechariah 6, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: GOD’S QUEST FOR THE HEART OF HUMANITY

We’re accustomed to a God who remains in one place, a God who sits enthroned in the heavens and rules and ordains. Dare we envision a God who follows us with goodness and mercy all the days of our lives? Who tracks us down and wins us over?

Isn’t this the kind of God described in the Bible? You’ll have to go no farther than the third chapter of the first book before you find God in the role of seeker. Adam and Eve are hiding in the bushes, partly to cover their bodies, partly to cover their sin. But does God wait for them to come to him? No, the words ring in the garden: “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). With that question God began a quest for the heart of humanity that continues up to and through the moment you hear these words.


Zechariah 6

Eighth Vision: Four Chariots

Once again I looked up—another strange sight! Four chariots charging out from between two mountains. The mountains were bronze.

2-3 The first chariot was drawn by red horses, the second chariot by black horses, the third chariot by white horses, and the fourth chariot by dappled horses. All the horses were powerful.

4 I asked the Messenger-Angel, “Sir, what’s the meaning here?”

5-7 The angel answered, “These are the four winds of heaven, which originate with the Master of the whole earth. The black horses are headed north with the white ones right after them. The dappled horses are headed south.” The powerful horses galloped out, bursting with energy, eager to patrol through the earth. The Messenger-Angel commanded: “On your way! Survey the earth!” and they were off in every direction.

8 Then he called to me and said, “Look at them go! The ones going north are conveying a sense of my Spirit, serene and secure. No more trouble from that direction.”

A Man Named Branch
9-12 Then this Message from God came to me: “Take up a collection from the exiles. Target Heldai, Tobiah, and Jedaiah. They’ve just arrived from Babylon. You’ll find them at the home of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Collect silver and gold from them and fashion crowns. Place one on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and give him this message:

12-13 “‘A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies. Be alert. We have a man here whose name is Branch. He will branch out from where he is and build the Temple of God. Yes, he’s the one. He’ll build the Temple of God. Then he’ll assume the role of royalty, take his place on the throne and rule—a priest sitting on the throne!—showing that king and priest can coexist in harmony.’

14 “The other crown will be in the Temple of God as a symbol of royalty, under the custodial care of Helem, Tobiah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah.

15 “People will come from faraway places to pitch in and rebuild the Temple of God. This will confirm that God-of-the-Angel-Armies did, in fact, send me to you. All this follows as you put your minds to a life of responsive obedience to the voice of your God.”

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion    
Wednesday, February 03, 2021
Read: Habakkuk 1:12–2:4

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint
12 Lord, are you not from everlasting?
    My God, my Holy One, you[a] will never die.
You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment;
    you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
    you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
    Why are you silent while the wicked
    swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
14 You have made people like the fish in the sea,
    like the sea creatures that have no ruler.
15 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks,
    he catches them in his net,
he gathers them up in his dragnet;
    and so he rejoices and is glad.
16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net
    and burns incense to his dragnet,
for by his net he lives in luxury
    and enjoys the choicest food.
17 Is he to keep on emptying his net,
    destroying nations without mercy?

2 I will stand at my watch
    and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
    and what answer I am to give to this complaint.[b]

The Lord’s Answer
2 Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation
    and make it plain on tablets
    so that a herald[c] may run with it.
3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
    it speaks of the end
    and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
    it[d] will certainly come
    and will not delay.

4 “See, the enemy is puffed up;
    his desires are not upright—
    but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness[e]—

Footnotes
Habakkuk 1:12 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition; Masoretic Text we
Habakkuk 2:1 Or and what to answer when I am rebuked
Habakkuk 2:2 Or so that whoever reads it
Habakkuk 2:3 Or Though he linger, wait for him; / he
Habakkuk 2:4 Or faith

INSIGHT
The prophecy of Habakkuk is more than 2,600 years old, yet the prophet spoke for us all when he asked God, “Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?” (1:3). Habakkuk realized the people of Judah must be judged for rejecting God, but the Babylonians, who inflicted the judgment, were even worse. How could God use them? God sees all evil and will judge it. He called Babylon “guilty people, whose own strength is their god” (v. 11). God reminded His people that “the righteous person will live by his faithfulness” (2:4). To turn away from this life-affirming choice will lead to despair.

Waiting for a Blessing -By James Banks

Though it linger, wait for it. Habakkuk 2:3

A popular restaurant in Bangkok serves soup from a broth that has been cooking for forty-five years and is replenished a bit each day. The practice, called “perpetual stew,” dates back to medieval times. Just as some “leftovers” taste better a few days later, the extended cooking time blends and creates unique flavors. The restaurant has won multiple awards for the most delicious broth in Thailand.

Good things often take time, but our human nature struggles with patience. The question “How long?” occurs throughout the Bible. One poignant example is from the prophet Habakkuk, who begins his book by asking, “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2). Habakkuk (whose name means “grappler”) prophesied God’s judgment on his country (Judah) through the invasion of the ruthless Babylonian Empire, and he wrestled with how God could allow corrupt people to prosper as they exploited others. But God promised hope and restoration in His own time: “For the revelation [of God’s help] awaits an appointed time . . . . Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (2:3).

The Babylonian captivity lasted seventy years. By human reckoning that’s a long time, but God is always faithful and true to His Word.

Some of God’s best blessings may be long in coming. Though they linger, keep looking to Him! He prepares every blessing with perfect wisdom and care—and He’s always worth waiting for.

What blessings are you waiting for from God? How do you plan to worship Him regardless of when blessings come?

Abba, Father, thank You for Your kindness and faithfulness in every season and blessing of life. Help me to look forward to You most of all.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Wednesday, February 03, 2021
Becoming the “Filth of the World”

We have been made as the filth of the world… —1 Corinthians 4:13

These words are not an exaggeration. The only reason they may not be true of us who call ourselves ministers of the gospel is not that Paul forgot or misunderstood the exact truth of them, but that we are too cautious and concerned about our own desires to allow ourselves to become the refuse or “filth of the world.” “Fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ…” (Colossians 1:24) is not the result of the holiness of sanctification, but the evidence of consecration— being “separated to the gospel of God…” (Romans 1:1).

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you…” (1 Peter 4:12). If we do think the things we encounter are strange, it is because we are fearful and cowardly. We pay such close attention to our own interests and desires that we stay out of the mire and say, “I won’t submit; I won’t bow or bend.” And you don’t have to— you can be saved by the “skin of your teeth” if you like. You can refuse to let God count you as one who is “separated to the gospel….” Or you can say, “I don’t care if I am treated like ‘the filth of the world’ as long as the gospel is proclaimed.” A true servant of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to experience martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God. When a moral person is confronted with contempt, immorality, disloyalty, or dishonesty, he is so repulsed by the offense that he turns away and in despair closes his heart to the offender. But the miracle of the redemptive reality of God is that the worst and the vilest offender can never exhaust the depths of His love. Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but “to reveal His Son in me…” (Galatians 1:16).

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

The great word of Jesus to His disciples is Abandon. When God has brought us into the relationship of disciples, we have to venture on His word; trust entirely to Him and watch that when He brings us to the venture, we take it.
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount

Bible in a Year: Exodus 31-33; Matthew 22:1-22

A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Wednesday, February 03, 2021
Leaders For Our Time - #8888

Spring is a time for cardinals. Like we have cardinals dining every morning at our backyard birdhouse. Oh, and there's the baseball Cardinals. They gather in Florida for spring training, and the fans start counting down to Opening Day...we hope.

And then the cardinals every few years migrate to Rome to elect a new pope, as they did several springs ago. Knowing that the pope would symbolize and shape the largest religious institution in the world. The cardinals, you could tell back then, clearly felt the weight of their decision in Rome, and some of them talked about it, expressing in advance the kind of man they thought the church needed.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Leaders For our Time."

I was struck by what one Cardinal had to say about the times in which we live. I thought they were pretty perceptive. He was talking about what's needed in a 21st Century pope. But I thought he gave any of us who care about the cause of Christ in our generation something to think about. He said, "Great secularism is pervading the church and prevailing all around us, so it brings a sense of urgency that we need to be re-proposing the Gospel."

Well, 20 centuries ago, Jesus described what the world will look like just before He returns. He said, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most" - He's talking about His followers - "will grow cold...and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:12, 14).

Creeping carelessness about sin and coldness toward Jesus for most of His people, but not all. Some are going to be on fire, sensing the two-minute warning on God's clock. And they will abandon the apathy of the age and they're going to go for broke to give everyone on this planet a chance at Jesus. Let's call it the cold and the bold.

That Cardinal contributed some additional insight on how relevant leadership will have to adapt. He said, "We will need to be able to reach out through all the means of communication today, especially social communications, to be present all over the world."

Rewind 2,000 years and hear God's Ambassador, Paul, articulating a spiritual rescue strategy for all times. "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22). By all possible means. In order to be what did he say? "Present all over the world." Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Google, Twitter, Amazon, smart phones, mobile apps, words that represent a worldwide revolution in communications - instant access to whatever. Things to buy, things to entertain, things that will corrode your soul, or if we Jesus-followers hear the wake-up call, things that could help reach a soul.

There are 35 times the number of people here than there were when Jesus gave His final orders in our word for today from the Word of God, Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere." Now there are nearly eight billion humans on earth and over 150,000 slip into eternity every day.

We can't trap the life-saving Gospel of Jesus inside church walls or comfortable methodologies. In today's cynical and tribalized world, the primary messenger of Jesus' Good News is you - the everyday believer. And the most effective means of reaching the most hearts are outside the box.

James Martin's description of what kind of leader the Roman Catholic Church needed I thought sums up the kind of leader I want to be for my Lord. As the editor-at-large for America Magazine, he said that the next pope needed to be someone who's "holy, who can effectively preach the gospel." And he said "Jesus used any and all media to communicate." So he called for preaching "with an understanding of how people hear."

I want to have the courage to go beyond the comfy Christian cocoon. To embrace "all possible means" for getting the message of the cross to people in the places where they are, with the words they can understand.