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It's unknown who wrote the Book of Malachi, which was written 100 years after the Israelites returned to their land after the Babylonian exile.
Malachi, a pivotal text, was penned 400 years prior to the advent of the New Testament, marking a significant period in biblical history.
The Book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, the final book of the 12 minor prophets that started with the Book of Hosea.
In Malachi, we will see six arguments or claims by God, and the Israelites disagree with or question God's responses. These arguments are in chapters 1-3.
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Zechariah 14:1-21; John 8:12; James 1:17-18; Revelation 19:14
In today's scripture in Zechariah, we see the light of the world ruling, not forcing people to worship, but indicating that if it's not done, he will not provide rain, which means no crops or life. We don't have to worship God, now or ever, but if we do, we will reap a harvest of a good life. God does not need us to worship him. He has his angels to do so, but he desires us to see his goodness in our day-to-day life, and out of this overflow of his goodness, we would yearn to worship with all we are.God can fill us when we feel lost, disoriented, or helpless. He is skilled at bringing life to the most barren places, satisfying our needs even when we are unaware. In our darkest moments, he can bring laughter and hope that can illuminate our valleys with his light if we allow him to.Today, I encourage you to follow the light. Follow where there is no darkness, and that is in Jesus. He is the light of the world. He still shines, and He wants us to receive a bit of that light in our hearts today to complete us.
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Zechariah 13:1-9; Matthew 24:21-22; Jeremiah 30:7; John 3:16.
In this chapter, Zechariah reveals a profound truth. In their human weakness, the disciples deserted Jesus in the midst of his torture, beating, and accusations. Yet, Jesus' life was not taken from him. No, he offered it up willingly for his children, for us, His chosen ones. Let us reflect on this sacrifice with gratitude and humility.
The disciples scattered when he needed them the most. Don't worry; God will not leave you alone when you need the most help. He is a compassionate God who wants his children to come to him, ask for repentance, and acknowledge that he is the only one who can cleanse them from all their unrighteousness.
Today, I encourage you to ask for forgiveness and repent from your heart. God yearns to walk with his children so they can reap all the benefits of his great love and compassion toward us. Also, pray for your enemies so God can work on their hearts.
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Zechariah 12:1-14; Psalm 122:6; Romans 11:26; 2 Chronicles 35:22-25
In this chapter of Zechariah, the Lord presents Israel's future salvation and how they will mourn for Jesus, the one who was pierced for them.
The surrounding nations of Israel are for their destruction, but God says he will prosper the nations that love Israel as an ally. The United States needs to remain in that position and protect God's land.
Therefore, I urge you today to demonstrate your faithfulness by actively praying for the peace of Jerusalem, for it is through this act that protection from the Mighty One will flow to those who do.
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Zechariah 11:1-17; Matthew 26:15; Matthew 27:3-5, 7; Daniel 9:27
Let us delve into the profound prophecy of Zechariah, who foretold the fate of the thirty pieces of silver that would be used to betray our Lord, a revelation from God Himself. This prophecy, now fulfilled, is vividly recorded in the writings of Matthew.
God is so gracious to us now that we have his complete instructions as to how we should live and who we are to follow and not to follow. His scriptures were written for us to be guided and prevented from the unfolding future.
Today, be guided by God's word, which he graciously gave us to live by and be alerted of things that could happen in this world and to us.
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Zechariah 10:1-12; Cornerstone: Psalm 118:22-23; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:42; Matthew 7:24-27; 1 Peter 2:4-5; Acts 4:11; Tent Peg: Isaiah 22:23-24; Bow of Battle: Isaiah 63:1-4; Every Ruler: Revelation 19:16.
Today's passage by Zechariah paints a vivid picture of Jesus as the cornerstone, tent peg, bow of battle, and every ruler. These powerful metaphors underscore his unwavering strength and stability, making him the only foundation that can sustain any building. As the song goes, he is 'the rock in which we stand.'
The enemy may blow on us, but he can't destroy us, for Jesus is the rock and the sustainer of his church.
I encourage you today to place your faith in Jesus so that when hard times come, you can withstand any attack and blow. He can cease any wind, as he did when the storm was hitting the boat when he was with the disciples.
You will never regret placing your trust in Him.
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Zechariah 9:1-17; Matthew 21:1-11; Psalm 118:26
The Lord fulfilled a prophecy, his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, which Zechariah saw.
Jesus, our King, while on earth, was a humble king compared to no other king.
Today, he is an accessible king who wants to have an intimate relationship with us. We can do that when we come humbly to him and surrender our lives to him.
He came humbly, and in his humility, he calls us to be humble. This mutual humility allows us to achieve great things for his kingdom, guided by his power and our humble surrender.
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Zechariah 8:1-23, Matthew 19:26, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 91:1-2
The Lord showed Zechariah the future blessing of our communion with others in the new city of Jerusalem, where Jesus would rule.
Jesus, with His transformative power, will change us from within, instilling in us a love for one another that mirrors His own. Our behavior towards His people will reflect His teachings and example.
Today, I encourage you to give your life to Christ and ask him to transform you into his likeness, for his ways are better than our ways. With this change, we can serve man and Him with a heart full of gratitude and awe of his love.
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Zechariah 7:1-14, Exodus 22:22-24, Ephesians 6:6-9
In this chapter, the Lord of Host revealed to Zechariah how the people are to serve him and do things that honor him.
We ought to serve God wholeheartedly and with great joy, in service to the widows, fatherless, strangers, and poor.
Our devotion to God should be a reflection of our innermost being, whether we are in prayer, serving at church, fasting, meditating, or praising God. It should be our genuine desire to please him, not to gain the approval of those who observe us, that should guide our actions.
Today, I encourage you to do something nice to someone who is oppressed and going through a hard time. Seek God to see what you can do to make someone smile.
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Zechariah 6:1-15, John 15:5, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 2:19-22.
God desires us to follow His rules and commandments so that we can constantly renew and strengthen our bodies in His temple, which is the Holy Spirit. In this chapter, we witness the amazing revelation of Jesus as both a priest and a king, possessing unparalleled authority and wisdom to rule. Therefore, I encourage you to stay close to Jesus and allow His word to govern your heart, so that the process of sanctification can begin in your life. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior can continue to grow and prepare their bodies as a dwelling place for Him, which will bring honor and praise to Him.
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Zechariah 5:1-11; Exodus 20:15-16; Proverbs 6:16-19; 14:5
In this chapter, Zechariah had another vision in which he saw a flying scroll. The scroll contained instructions for people who steal, are perjurers or have lying tongues. These things are detestable to the Lord because stealing takes from our neighbor, and lying or swearing by His name is a form of falsifying His name. God is light, and in Him, there is no variation or shifting shadow as it says in James 1:17b. Jesus also declared, "I am the Light of the world" in John 8:12a.Furthermore, in this chapter, Zechariah saw an ephah with a woman and a weight that represented wickedness, according to the Bible's commentaries. At that time, the people of Israel who had returned from Babylon had a materialistic mindset, indicating their lack of trust in God, the Creator of everything.Let us reiterate the profound lesson from this chapter: the act of lying or swearing by God's name is never acceptable, and it is an act that He despises. Our God is the embodiment of truth, and it is our duty to uphold and reflect His truth in all our actions and words.
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Zechariah 4: 1-14 and Luke 16:10
Zechariah was shown a vision, and the Angel of the Lord of Host explained its meaning to him. It is important to remember that every task, whether big or small, should be done with dedication, and presented to God. Through His Spirit, we are empowered to achieve great things, even in the smallest of tasks.Never underestimate the value of starting small in your project. God, in His infinite wisdom, recognizes your full potential and desires for you to trust Him in the little things. As Luke 16:10 reminds us, "The one who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and the one who is unrighteous in a very little thing is also unrighteous in much." Therefore, you should entrust your small resources to God, for He is the master of multiplication.
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Zechariah 3:1-10, Exodus 28:36-38, Isaiah 64:6, John 15:5, Hebrew 4:16, John 14:6.
In this chapter, Zechariah envisions Joshua, the high priest, being accused by Satan in front of God. However, God had a better plan. He changed Joshua's filthy garments and placed a turban on his head, perhaps with the engraving "Holy to the Lord", as used in Moses days.I am fascinated that God wants us to bring our filthy garments in exchange for a brand new life and a garment of righteousness. We receive this garment when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. For He took the sins of the world upon His shoulders so that we could have full access to heaven, even to the Father Himself.We can do many charitable works on this earth, but if they don't align with a right heart connected to the Father through Jesus, those "righteous deeds" are useless and do not have any value in the kingdom of heaven.Today, I encourage you to find Jesus. He is accessible anytime and anywhere. He wants to redeem all who come to Him with an honest, humble, and genuine heart, like that of a child.
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Zechariah 2:1-13, Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 18:4-5, John 3:16
We are witnessing a beautiful display of God's love for Israel and his adopted children. Jesus will govern his nation and will bring forth the perfect government as the light. God's strength is so powerful that he can shake his hands, and his enemies will fall. He loves his children and his nation, Israel, deeply. This is why he wanted them to leave their enemies' land, so they would not feel his judgment. The Lord considers his Holy Land as the apple of his eye, and He takes care of it lovingly and dedicatedly. Today, let us remember that God's love extends to us, his chosen nation, Israel, and to us, his lovingly adopted children. He would move heaven and earth for us, as he did when he sent his son to this earth. He opened the heavens and sent His son who took on human form and rose on the third day. We are truly the apple of his eye.
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Zechariah 1:1-21 and James 4:8
In this chapter, we learned about how God is always on the side of his people, the Israelites. Zechariah had visions where angels and even Jesus himself spoke to him. We also discovered that God has a purpose for his people. He wanted them to come closer to him so that he could show them what that purpose was. Even though they faced many obstacles, God wanted to bring prosperity to them. Additionally, the nations that caused suffering and hardship to the Israelites will soon be judged for their actions. Today, let us remember the powerful words, "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you," as stated in James. Drawing near to God strengthens our dependence, stability, and assurance, as we trust in the creator of our life who always knows what is best for us.
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In this book of Zechariah, we will see many prophecies about our Lord that will give us an overflow of hope.
Zechariah means Yahweh Remembers.
He preached during Haggai's ministry and is believed to have preached until early 840 BC, before Ezra and Nehemiah.
Because of his lineage, Zechariah was a priest and prophet.
Zechariah's book is a rich tapestry of prophecies, discussing the first and second coming of Christ, the rejection of the messiah by his people, the judgment of sin, cleansing and restoration, and the promise of God to rebuild his people.
Chapters 1-8 were written during the temple's rebuilding, and chapters 9-14 were written after its completion.
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Haggai 1:1-23, Philippians 4:19
In this chapter, the prophet Haggai encourages his people to keep building the temple, as God is the owner of all earthly resources.In our lives, we should not lose hope, for God knows the purpose intended for each of us on this earth and knows exactly how to provide for our needs to fulfill any promise he has given us.It's important not to compare ourselves to others. We are all unique and made in God's likeness, so we are beautiful in his eyes, especially those who have been called by him to receive the work of the cross in our hearts. Comparison can rob us of our joy, desire, and strength. Don't let negative circumstances hinder you from doing what God has for you to do on this earth for his glory, by comparing your work to that of others.
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Haggai 1:1-15
The book of Haggai is about the prophet who redirected the purpose of the people of Israel. The 50,000 people who had returned from the Babylonian exile had started building the temple, but their focus was not on God first. As a result, their desires dwindled. It is essential to remember that it is God's purpose that should guide us. When we align our desires with God's purpose, we find true fulfillment.If our desires do not align with God's purpose, they can cause harm to us. It is imperative to realize it soon enough before they start wrecking us. God can provoke drought, lack of finance, manpower, and strength, but if we reroute back to God's purpose and plan, we can live in peace and harmony with God and man.Therefore, it is crucial to refocus your plans today and allow God to be the center of your life before your plans misguide you or cause harm.
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This book shows how the minor prophet encouraged the Jewish people to build a second temple.
They listened to Haggai's encouragement and built the temple, completed in 515 BC under the leadership of Zerubbabel, a Jewish leader and Persian ruler of Davidic origin.
The first temple, a symbol of Jewish faith and unity, was erected by King Solomon. Its destruction by the Babylonians during the exile marked a significant turning point in Jewish history, paving the way for the construction of the second temple.
Today, only a portion of the temple's outer wall remains, and it is presumed that behind it was the Holy of Holies, where God's presence abide.
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Zephaniah 3:1-20
In the final chapter of Zephaniah, God offers hope to the people of Israel that their nation will be restored with the presence of Jesus, our "Victorious Warrior". This chapter also deals with the issue of judgment for Israel. The prophets and priests, who were expected to guide God's chosen people, had led them astray, resulting in severe judgment.As we continue our day, let us remember that God is capable of mending and restoring any relationship, especially our relationship with Him. He will rejoice and celebrate when we are reconciled with Him. This life is merely a test, and we are just passing through. As the song goes, "His kingdom will know no end". God has emotions, and He will delight in us once He restores us.
- Visa fler