Notes of Faith March 12, 2025
Out on a Ledge
Should you not have obeyed the words which the Lord proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?
Zechariah 7:7
Last October a national park ranger at the Grand Canyon saw a group of girls maneuvering over a sign that said, “DO NOT ENTER.” The girls crept onto a dangerous ledge to practice their yoga postures as the sun went down. The exasperated ranger felt the same sort of concern the Lord feels when we maneuver over His warnings, rules, and commands.
Recommended Reading:
In the book of Zechariah, some of the remnant who returned to Babylon asked Zechariah if they needed to continue to fast for the restoration of Jerusalem. Zechariah told them it was better to obey than to fast. He told them God expected them to show mercy and compassion to their brothers.
It’s one thing to study the Bible and another to obey what it says. It’s not a religious routine that pleases God but heartfelt obedience. Is there an area in your life akin to maneuvering around one of God’s warning signs?
Obedience to the revealed will of God is often just as much a step of faith as claiming a promise from God.
Jerry Bridges
Zechariah 7:7-12
7Are not these the words which Yahweh called out by the hand of the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and at ease along with its cities around it, and the [†]Negev and the [†]Shephelah were inhabited?’”
8Then the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah saying, 9“Thus has Yahweh of hosts said, ‘Judge with true justice and show lovingkindness and compassion each to his brother; 10and do not oppress the widow or the [†]orphan, the sojourner or the afflicted; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’ 11But they refused to give heed and [†]turned a stubborn shoulder and [†]dulled their ears from hearing. 12And they made their hearts [†]diamond-hard [†]so that they could not hear the law and the words which Yahweh of hosts had sent by His Spirit by the hand of the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from Yahweh of hosts
It is not easy to be in the Word of God daily. It takes diligence, purpose and good habit building. Once you have that characteristic, it is necessary to obey what you read. That is the hard part. We often skip over things as if they do not apply to us when those are the very things we need to work on to become more like Christ. In your morning prayer today ask God if there is anything that you have ignored in His Word that you need to listen to starting today!
Pastor Dale