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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 17 December 2023:
Zechariah 4:6, 10 — Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts…. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
Today’s readings from Zechariah offer important insights into how God works through our lives to glorify Himself:
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.” First, God will call us and empower us by His Spirit to do what is impossible for us naturally, so He is glorified and not us. God isn’t trying to reveal to the world what a bunch of talented, good people can do if they really set their minds to it. God is using His ambassadors to reveal His Son and the power of the Gospel to the world. “And without faith it is impossible to please him….” (Hebrews 11:6) If we don’t have the faith to obediently accept ‘impossible’ tasks, we will miss out on all God had in store for us. He will still accomplish His purposes, but we will miss out on the joy of experiencing Him as He desires for us – Remember Esther? “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
– 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 — For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
“…the day of small things….” Too often we look for God’s activity in the spectacular and seek to serve Him in spectacular ways, but God works most often and most mightily in the small things, and we serve Him best when we are consistently faithful in the little things. While we might be impressed by the success of the mega-church pastor or world-renowned evangelist, Jesus walked with a small group of twelve disciples and taught them that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32) or leaven in dough (Matthew 13:33), very small and hardly noticeable at first but possessing the potential to have transformational impact. And Jesus said we do our best work when we simply take care of the needs of the often neglected people right where we are – “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40) Being faithful in the moment, right where we are, is a very powerful way to glorify God today and every day.
– Matthew 25:21 — His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
– James 1:27 — Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
– John 6:9 — “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”
– Hebrews 13:2 — Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Psalm 146:3 – Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
There is no hope in the world’s political systems and politicians. While everyone else is lifting up politicians and political platforms, lift up only Jesus Christ and the Gospel.
Micah 4 proclaims that there shall not be peace and security on earth until the nations submit to the Lord and “walk in his paths.” Though “all the peoples walk each in the name of its god,” Christians proclaim that salvation comes only through Christ in accordance with God’s will, mercy, and grace. Until the world accepts that truth, the world will “assemble” against God’s people because, “they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan.” (Micah 4:12) Until Christ returns to reign on earth, “the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord…. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples (Micah 5:7, 8).” God’s loyal subjects currently serve as “ambassadors” of God’s Kingdom to the kingdoms of the world where God’s people live as foreigners or strangers. Are you a loyal subject in the Kingdom of God?
Psalm 146:5 – Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.
Let’s campaign for Jesus during the next election cycle.
Psalm 146:7-9 — [God] who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
Only God can rightly balance justice and mercy to defend victims and no how/when to forgive victimizers. God’s ways always protect the weak and defenseless.
This is a theme in today’s readings. Jesus said we must worship both in spirit and in truth. True worship is living righteously. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” You don’t love and worship Jesus in truth if you are not obeying Him.
Proverbs 17:1 – Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.
God wants you to live in quiet and peace rather than self-induced chaos and stress. Better to have less in peace and quiet than to wear yourself out trying to do everything.
Proverbs 17:2 — A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
This is an interesting verse when considered in context with how God responded to the unbelief of many Jews by opening the door of salvation to the Gentiles. As Romans 11:11 says, “Because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.” Paul continues: “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.” I believe that when “the full number of the Gentiles has come in,” the “Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare (2 Peter 3:10; see all of 2 Peter 3 to understand more on the topic). Who do you know and love that you want to see counted among that number? Have you told them about Jesus?
Proverbs 17:3 – The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.
The Lord uses circumstances to test your heart. How has God tested your heart?
Proverbs 17:6 — Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.
Christian parents should have a plan for generations of faithfulness.
Proverbs 17:10 – A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.
Wise people are self-examining and self-correcting.
Is the conviction of God’s word empowered by the Holy Spirit enough to bring you to obedience, or do you need to learn the hard way?
Proverbs 17:16 – Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
Wisdom comes only from God. You can pay to get a great education, and you can acquire great knowledge, but knowledge is not the same as wisdom. Wisdom is knowledge rightly applied. You cannot buy wisdom or study harder to obtain wisdom. Only God can reveal to you what is right. To educate someone who is not Spirit-led is to create a more capable sinner, more skilled at doing sinful things. In fact, the secular humanist essentially worships knowledge and “science” (which is really a false science). Secular humanist knowledge is just a complicated lie, grounded on the assumption that God is irrelevant. This false knowledge has corrupted our culture in so many subtle ways that many Christians unwittily have blended it into their concepts of God and His will. Be very careful to test what is commonly called ‘good’ with the truth of the Bible.
Proverbs 17:20 – A man of crooked heart does not discover good.
Again, good only comes from God. If you want to do good, you must be united with Jesus.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 17 December 2023: Be faithful in the moment today, and be ready to instantly accept an ‘impossible’ task from God if He assigns it to you. Don’t say your prayers this morning and then step out on your own to face today’s challenges and opportunities, perhaps checking in with God now and then. Rather walk with God every step of the day, abiding in Him, talking with Him (praying without ceasing), following Him, obeying Him, and relying on His power, not yours. Do all things, even the smallest things, with Him, through Him, and for Him, allowing your soul to magnify Him – “My soul magnifies the Lord.” (Luke 1:16)
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 