Archive for category: GAMEtime Sharing

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Zechariah 12:1-14.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Zechariah 12:1 (NIV)
1 This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares: 
 
On verse 1:  Here Zechariah writes down a message from the LORD regarding Israel.  Before describing the message, first Zechariah describes the God who gave him the message as “the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him”.  In other words, the same God who made the heavens and the earth, as big as they are, also forms the spirit within each person.  You’re not a spiritual being by accident.  It is God who formed the spirit in you so that you would ultimately reach for Him.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Zechariah 10:1-12.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Zechariah 10:1 (NIV)
1  Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.

On verse 1:  God is the ultimate source of every good thing we have in life, every provision.  Verse 1 encourages us to look to God as our provider.

Zechariah 10:2 (NIV)
2  The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain.  Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

On verse 2:  In verse 2 Zechariah warns the people of Judah against worshiping idols and resorting to divination for guidance.  He says that what idols and diviners give are empty promises and false visions.  Instead of turning to idols and divination for help, Zechariah tells the Jews to ask God who provides and “who sends the thunderstorms” (v1).  Don’t look to idols for help.  Look to God. 

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Zechariah 9:1-8.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

In Zechariah 9:1-8, Zechariah receives a prophetic message from the Lord.  The message is that a number of famous cities surrounding Judah would be destroyed, while Judah itself would be protected and preserved.  About 150 years after Zechariah wrote down this prophecy, Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. would march through the region, destroying many of the cities mentioned in these verses, but sparing Judah.  It goes to show that God’s Word is reliable and God’s protection is real.

Zechariah 9:1 (NIV) 
1 The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach and will rest upon Damascus– for the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel are on the LORD– 

On verse 1:  Damascus was the capital of Aram, which is modern day Syria. 

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Zechariah 8:1-13.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!
 
Zechariah 8:1-2 (NIV)
1 Again the word of the LORD Almighty came to me.
2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.” 
 
On verses 1-2:  What does it mean when the Bible says that God is a jealous God?  It means that God is passionate about us.  He’s jealous for our love and devotion.  He will not tolerate any rivals for our love.  So when we are more devoted to other things than to God, it grieves Him.  
 
God knows, and hopefully we know too, that we were made for a life with Him at the very centre.  When God is not at the centre of our lives, God is grieved and our lives are not as joyful, peaceful, or full as God intended it to be.  Remember today: God is jealous for you.  So give Him your attention and full devotion.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Zechariah 6:1-15.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!
 
Zechariah 6:1-8 (NIV)
1  I looked up again–and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains–mountains of bronze!
2  The first chariot had red horses, the second black,
3  the third white, and the fourth dappled–all of them powerful.
4  I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”

On verses 1-8:  Zechariah is shown an eighth vision.  It’s a vision of four chariots coming out from between two bronze mountains.  The first chariot is pulled by red horses, the second by black horses, the third by white horses and the fourth by spotted horses.  When Zechariah asks what these chariots and horses represent, the angel speaking to Zechariah explains that the four chariots represent the “four spirits (or winds) of heaven” (v4).  Zechariah notices that all these powerful horses are “straining” (v7) — that is, they’re eager to get going.  When the angel gives the command, “Go throughout the earth!” they do exactly that.  Then the angel tells Zechariah that the black ones going toward the north country have given his Spirit rest in the north country (v8).