From the Kitchen Table

Advent Day 10

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor. But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts. For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”                     Zachariah 8:9-13

The plans of God are in the promises of God.  Zachariah prophesying about this day said that Beauty and Blessing are in the coming of the Lord.  The only thing that interferes with God’s behavior is man’s unbelief.  God says, “I will save you and I will bless you.”  Those who believe in God, believe God.  It’s so sad when we call “saved” a life that is still saddled with sin.  God’s word is one of beauty and blessing.  God has come to deal with man’s ugliness.  Don’t call ugly, beauty.  The promise in Zachariah’s prophecy is that God will give those who believe in Him and believe Him a new name and a new life.  This world shows its contempt for wrong by its words and witness for wrongdoers.  Those things change when God saves us.  We earn our title by our testimony.   A curse and a by-word are what a promiscuous life earns but beauty and blessing are the words that God speaks over those who believe in Him and believe Him.  Strengthen your hands; become strong in what you believe, and you will no longer fear the words of unbelievers.  Don’t just believe in God, believe God!