Thus says the LORD of hosts:
I am intensely jealous for Zion,
stirred to jealous wrath for her.
Thus says the LORD:
I will return to Zion,
and I will dwell within Jerusalem;
Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city,
and the mountain of the LORD of hosts,
the holy mountain.
After the Emperor Cyrus allowed the exiles in Babylon to return to the ruins of Jerusalem, their holy city, the prophets Haggai urged them to rebuild the temple and Zechariah assured them that God's favor still rested upon them.
We know the favor of God neither by our wealth, security, and good health, nor by our virtue, but by the fact that we're still here. Even yet we have not given up the faith. The Holy Spirit still rouses us like your mother on Monday morning, "Get up, get going, people are counting on you, you've got to show up!"
We might wish it were one of the latter. There are millions of people who believe in the gospel of success as they wait for God to pay their bills; and others who trust the gospel of good health as they eat right, abstain from tobacco, exercise daily, talk to their counselors, and avoid excess work for fear of burnout. Those are good things, aren't they?
And then there are those who suppose they are virtuous because they vote for virtuous politicians, say their morning and evening prayers, and wouldn't say (a naughty word) if they had a mouthful of it.
But none of that really counts because the Gospel is not about us; it's about the Lord our God who is our savior, champion, and friend, as well as our accuser, judge, tormentor, vindicator and healer.
As disciples of the Lord we are assured of God's love as we go about the business of doing God's will. Our freedom is obedience to that life-giving spirit who tells us what to say, when to say it, and when to say nothing; as well as what to do, when to do it, and when to sit back and let God be God.
Like the Lord on Easter Sunday, we're still here after the tragedies, pandemics, catastrophes, debacles, scandals, and defeats. We're still believing and still hopeful.
That is the surest sign of God's blessing.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.