We Became a Blessing Through Jesus

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

We Became a Blessing Through Jesus

Date: Oct. 25, 2024

Passage

Zechariah 8:14-23 (ESV)

14 For thus says the LORD of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts, 15 so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. 16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; 17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.”

18 And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.

20 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.’ 22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. 23 Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 8:23

Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

God had destroyed and punished Jerusalem and the Israelites because of their sins. But God says, “Just as I had determined.” Just as God was determined to bring disaster on the unfaithful Israelites, now he is determined to do good again in Jerusalem and Judah.

Is it because of anything that Jerusalem did? No! There was nothing they did that deserved good from God. But it was one-sided grace from God to do good again in this land.

In times of God’s grace, what does God want us to do? Speak the truth to each other, render sound judgment in the courts and do not plot evil. When God is with Jerusalem again, people will cling to the Jews and want to go with them because they have God. When God is with Jerusalem again, it will no longer be a land of curse but a land of blessing.

Likewise, we have done nothing that deserved God’s blessing. Our sin makes us a byword of a curse. But through Jesus’ death on the cross, we no longer are a curse, but have become a blessing. In Jesus Christ, we can speak truth, render true judgment, and not plot evil.

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, who makes us live a blessed life in you.

One Word: Jesus, Immanuel, God is with us

Fallen Babylon

Revelation 18:1-24

Key Verse: 18:4

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

  “Come out of her, my people,
    lest you take part in her sins,
  lest you share in her plagues;

Today's Question

What does the third commandment require?

See answer and references