Day 119 – Take courage and do not fear!
Haggai 2:4-5 ‘But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the Lord of hosts. ‘As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’
Story: Have you ever felt like God assigned you to Mission: Impossible? Something you wished someone else, anyone else was to do besides you? God has charged Israel to rebuild His temple in Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua. Problems, though, abound: they are dirt poor; they aren’t all building contractors; the new temple was going to be a drastic step down from the old temple. But God calls them to work and be strong. They are not to fear because of God’s promise, God’s presence, and the Holy Spirit abiding in their midst. Even a building project is dependent on the working of God, not men.
My Prayer Response: Father, we often make wrong judgments based on what we see, experience, and/or feel. But not You. We often make promises we can’t keep and so disappoint. But not You. With the impossible missions before us, let us not fear, taking stock of all the liabilities and weaknesses. We will not fear, because our eyes are fixed on You, Your promises, Your character, and Your presence!
May the LORD be with you today!
Day 120 – Do Not Fear for Today or Tomorrow
Zechariah 8:13-15 ‘It will come about that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.’
“For thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Just as I purposed to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and I have not relented, so I have again purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear!
Story: In short, the ‘do not fear’ in verse 13 is focused on the present challenges and ‘do not fear’ in verse 15 is focused on future hope. Zechariah speaks to Israel and Judah in the time of rebuilding the temple and rebuilding the nation. Captivity has shattered much of their resources and especially their confidence. But the discipline is over, and God is restoring His people. So they must get to work; let your hands be strong (said at the start of v. 9 and end of v. 13). But God, as always, has thoughts and plans greater than our own, and so He commits Himself in v. 15 to the future good of Jerusalem. Of this future hope, God also adds, ‘do not fear.’
My Prayer Response: Father, I’m starting to see how much of my fear is connected with unbelief; and a lot of that unbelief comes from forgetfulness. I forget You. I forget You are present. I forget Your character, Your promises, Your power. I forget what You have done in the past – both long ago in the Bible and recently in my own life. Forgive me for this. Let me be about Your work today – not fearful, but bringing to mind who You are and what Your Word says. No matter whether I look at today or tomorrow, You are decisively involved- and because of You, I have no fear.
May your hands be strong for the LORD today!
Day 121 – The Worship God Deserves
Malachi 1:14 “But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says the Lord of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations.”
Story: God is not at all fooled, even though we can be successful at fooling others and even ourselves. God’s people were cutting corners in their worship of Him. They would go through the motions of the offerings, and say all the right words at the right time, but their hearts were not in it. How does God know this? Because if their hearts were right, their worship would focus on who He truly is – the Lord and great King, the LORD of Hosts (or the LORD who reigns over all). His very greatness demands our greatest in our worship. So instead of a blessing on this one who offered an imperfect sacrifice, a curse comes. God is not favorable to those who treat Him less than who He is.
My Prayer Response: Father, You do not play games, especially when it comes to the worship You rightly deserve. Help me then in repetitive worship – as on Sundays, as in this devotional time now – to fear You truly. Keep me from taking You for granted; warn me when my heart is not in it. What a privilege to meet often, even daily, even moment by moment, with You! Though You are so close and so intimate, may I always still recognize that You are my God, the LORD who rules over all!
May you worship the LORD today with a genuine heart!
Day 122 – Encourage Each Other in the Fear of the LORD
Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name.
Story: So far in these fear journals, it has been emphasizing the individual privately fearing the LORD. But here, it highlights our need for support and help from one another to fear the LORD. We don’t do this alone. In the midst of Israel’s rejection of God and thinking, ‘It is vain to serve God’ or ‘God lets evil-doers prosper and escape judgment’ (v. 14-15), those who fear the LORD talk with one another. They remind each other that such popular opinions aren’t true. They encourage each other to wait on the LORD. They refresh each other in the value of continuing to fear the LORD. And this is so crucial and precious to our God, not only does He stop all that He is doing to listen in, but He writes this down in a book of remembrance. Because God doesn’t forget; He has no need for this book. But it becomes an eternal record of how those who feared Him continued to do so, even when it was toughest.
My Prayer Response: Father, I see v. 14-15 alive and vibrant in my country. And instead of complaining (though we do lament this to You), we speak truth about You to each other. How precious to me, even more to You, are the reminders of You and helps and notes from my church family and Christian network. Thank You for this community of support to keep fearing You, no matter what is popular.
May you encourage another today in the fear of the LORD!
Day 123 – Are You Ready For This Day?
Malachi 4:2-3 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the Lord of hosts.
Story: This is a cool, but confusing picture: the sun rises, but it has wings to heal?!? And suddenly we act like newborn calves?!? The context is a future day, a coming day of God’s justice on the wicked (v. 1, 3). They will have no hope, no escape. A fire so hot will burn them to be ashes. But for those who fear the LORD, the sun (a big ball of fire in the sky) will not harm them or consume them, but will instead heal them. While the wicked will come to an end and have no life, those who fear the LORD will be just starting out, full of new life, strength, and energy. Are you ready for this day?
My Prayer Response: Father, thank You for my salvation in Jesus. By Your grace alone, all my sins are paid in full and I am counted by You as one of Your own. Thank You for Your patience, that this day is yet future and so salvation is available still. Use me today and this week to tell someone of how they can be rescued and enjoy this coming day of when You act.
May you be ready for this coming day.