{"id":29867,"date":"2024-02-07T22:00:07","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T05:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/zechariah-7_1-14-copy\/"},"modified":"2024-01-30T21:05:35","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T04:05:35","slug":"zechariah-8_1-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/zechariah-8_1-13\/","title":{"rendered":"God Is Jealous For You"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zechariah 8:1-13\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0(CLICK HERE FOR\u00a0BIBLE VERSES)<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs!<\/p>\n

Today’s passage is\u00a0Zechariah\u00a08:1-13.\u00a0 As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!<\/p>\n

Zechariah\u00a08:1-2 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n1\u00a0<\/sup>Again the word of the LORD Almighty came to me.
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses\u00a01-2: \u00a0What does it mean when the Bible says that God is a jealous God?\u00a0 It means that\u00a0God is passionate about us.\u00a0 He’s jealous for our love and devotion.\u00a0 He will not tolerate any rivals for our love.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0So when we are more devoted to other things than to God, it grieves Him.<\/p>\n

God knows, and hopefully we know too, that we were made for a life with\u00a0Him\u00a0<\/em>at the very centre.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Remember today: God is jealous for you.\u00a0 So give Him your attention and full devotion.<\/p>\n

Zechariah\u00a08:3 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 3: \u00a0God makes an awesome promise to His people: “I will return and make you ‘the City of Truth’, my ‘Holy Mountain’, the place where My presence dwells.” \u00a0It’s amazing that no matter how many lies we’ve spoken, God calls us His city of truth.\u00a0 No matter how many sins we have committed, God calls us His Holy Mountain.\u00a0 No matter how many times we’ve pushed Him aside, God still longs to fill our lives with His presence.<\/p>\n

Why is that?\u00a0 How is this possible?\u00a0 It’s only possible through Jesus Christ. Five hundred years after God makes this promise to His people in verse 3, God would send Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins.\u00a0 Jesus traded our lies for His truth, our sins for His holiness, and our emptiness for His presence.\u00a0Through Jesus Christ, we become God’s city of truth, His holy mountain, and the place where His presence dwells by His Spirit.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Zechariah 8:4-13 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0This is what the\u00a0LORD\u00a0Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age.
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0This is what the\u00a0LORD\u00a0Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the\u00a0LORD\u00a0Almighty.
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0This is what the\u00a0LORD\u00a0Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0This is what the\u00a0LORD\u00a0Almighty says: “You who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were there when the foundation was laid for the house of the\u00a0LORD\u00a0Almighty, let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Before that time there were no wages for man or beast. No one could go about his business safely because of his enemy, for I had turned every man against his neighbor.
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the\u00a0LORD\u00a0Almighty.
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people.
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0As you have been an object of cursing among the nations, O Judah and Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 4-13: \u00a0Here the Lord through\u00a0Zechariah\u00a0promises restoration for a remnant of the people (v11).\u00a0 He describes blessings that will accompany His people.\u00a0 God promises that:
\n–\u00a0 people will not die prematurely, but live to a ripe, old age (v4)
\n–\u00a0 children will play in the streets without fear (v5)
\n–\u00a0 God’s people who had been scattered to distant places will be brought back home (v7-8a)
\n–\u00a0 they will belong to God and God will be faithful and righteous to them (v8b)
\n–\u00a0 poverty and economic depression (v10) will be replaced with economic blessing and fruitfulness (v12)
\n–\u00a0 Judah and Israel will stop being a curse word and be a blessing to other nations (v13a)<\/p>\n

For some these promises might have seemed too good to be true.\u00a0 Yet God says, “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to Me?” (v6) \u00a0In other words,\u00a0nothing is too difficult for God<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, these visions will find their final fulfillment when Jesus comes again.<\/p>\n

Also, notice that these promises were not for everybody, but for “a remnant”of the people (v6).\u00a0 Paul would develop this concept further in the book of Romans, suggesting that the remnant that would experience these blessings are those who place their trust in Jesus (see Romans 9:27 and 11:5).<\/p>\n

Are you in a discouraging place right now?\u00a0 Are you depressed, frustrated, financially strapped, or living in fear?\u00a0 Remember this: \u00a0with God all things are possible.\u00a0 He is the expert at creating streams in the desert and bringing hope where there is no hope.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Rely on Him and trust in His promises, and He will make a way for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Zechariah\u00a08:9 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>This is what the LORD Almighty says: “You who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were there when the foundation was laid for the house of the LORD Almighty, let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 9: Sandwiched between all the promises the LORD gives His people, the LORD tells the people to be strong “so that the temple may be built” (v9).\u00a0 Twice He says, “let your hands be strong” (v9, 13).\u00a0 Keeping the vision God had painted in their minds, God’s people were to work hard and diligently at rebuilding the temple.\u00a0 What can we learn from this?<\/p>\n

The vision of your heart will determine the strength of your hands.<\/strong>\u00a0In other words, if your vision is strong, your hands will be strong.\u00a0 If your vision is weak, your hands will be weak.\u00a0 What is your vision?\u00a0 God has a powerful vision for your life.\u00a0 For as long as you keep that vision strong in your mind, there will be strength in your hands to do the work necessary to turn that vision into a reality.<\/p>\n

If you’re not sure what God’s vision is for your life, it’s time to ask God to show you.\u00a0 Start taking steps to discover God’s vision for your life: start reading His Word like never before, seek advice from godly leaders, and pray.\u00a0 I think you’ll discover over time that God’s vision for your\u00a0life involves 5 parts: you were made to worship Jesus, to become more like Him in your character, to serve Him with your talents, to lead others to Jesus and to love your spiritual family.<\/p>\n

Once you know God’s vision for your life, never let it go.\u00a0 For the vision in your heart will give strength to your hands.<\/p>\n

Father, You are jealous for me.\u00a0 Thank You for wanting to be involved at the centre of my life.\u00a0 Thank You for all the blessings that follow me when I place You at the centre.\u00a0 May Your vision for my life be strong in my heart.\u00a0 Let Your vision strengthen my hands to do the work I am to do today. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2021 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs!<\/p>\n

Today’s passage is\u00a0Zechariah\u00a08:1-13.\u00a0 As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!
\n\u00a0
\nZechariah\u00a08:1-2 (NIV)
\n1\u00a0Again the word of the LORD Almighty came to me.
\n2\u00a0This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nOn verses\u00a01-2: \u00a0What does it mean when the Bible says that God is a jealous God?\u00a0 It means that\u00a0God is passionate about us.\u00a0 He’s jealous for our love and devotion.\u00a0 He will not tolerate any rivals for our love.\u00a0\u00a0So when we are more devoted to other things than to God, it grieves Him. \u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nGod knows, and hopefully we know too, that we were made for a life with\u00a0Him\u00a0at the very centre.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Remember today: God is jealous for you.\u00a0 So give Him your attention and full devotion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29869,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29867"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29867\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29870,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29867\/revisions\/29870"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}