Today's passage is Zechariah 1:1-6. Zechariah is given a message to tell the people to return to the Lord and turn away from evil ways. He reminds them that previous prophets said the same thing and the people repented because they agreed that the Lord's punishment was what they deserved.
Why do the Jews keep ignoring God? Why do I want to go my own way?
This morning I went to a foreign school where a big volleyball and ping pong tournament was taking place.
All the foreign school middle school student teams were attending.
But I couldn't find my school's teams.
I called one of the coaches. My school's teams didn't play until after lunch.
So I went back home.
Sometimes that seems to be what my life is like.
I don't pay attention and when things don't work out, I go home, I return to the Lord.
I don't mean that I abandon God and turn away from my faith in Jesus and his saving grace.
What I mean is the small forgettings of God throughout my day.
In those forgettings I wander away from my home in the Lord. I let circumstances irritate me and I find curses on my lips, not thanksgiving.
I came home this morning when a PTO(Parents Teacher Organigation) lady kindly guided me around the school to each of the places where ping pong and volleyball was going on.
The school is composed of many buildings and the sports venues are on many different levels.
The school is like a rabbit warren, complicated and confusing.
At one point I said to the lady that I often got lost but God always sent a guide to me. I thanked her for being my guide.
That moment was the Holy Spirit reminding me of God's continuous message to come home. It was my gratefully received Zechariah moment.
Lord, let me not be blind and deaf to your word. Forgive my selfish grumpiness that results from my wayward blindness and deafness to your loving guidance. Keep your word ever before me, I pray.
