At evening it will be light

"But at evening time it shall happen that it will be light." Zechariah 14:7

If we read the verse in its context, we discover that the prophet is speaking about the day of the LORD – when Jesus returns at His Second Coming. He says that on that day there will be no light – the lights grow dim and there will be darkness, "but at evening time it shall happen that it will be light." Christ appears and His brilliance illuminates the darkness. This is how it was at His first coming – the glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds, and at the start of Christ's ministry, Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled, "the people who sat in darkness saw a great light." (Matthew 4:16)

When we were small, some of us were afraid of the dark. Some grownups are still afraid of the dark. But when there's a light, how different the night looks! The light swallows up any fear people may have, and they have courage.

There's a deeper meaning to our verse: When the light of day fades into evening - when the confidence you had in times of prosperity turns to fear, and even terror in the time of adversity, remember, God is still there – He has promised, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."

Do you find yourself in some kind of darkness? Whatever form that darkness may take, God promises that the dark of night will be illuminated by His presence.

More abundant life

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

In today's text we see the contrast between the thief and the Lifegiver.

Jesus talks about the thief – Satan – whose purpose is to steal peace and happiness from the people of earth, to spread death across the planet and to leave destruction in his wake. Jesus calls him a "murderer from the beginning" and "the father of lies". See John 8:44

Today's verse tells us about a battle going on. It's a war being fought between the forces of darkness and the forces of light. This war started in heaven (see Revelation 12:7-9) and the battle continues. It's the battle for our minds. It's the same battle that Jesus fought in the wilderness, when Satan came to tempt Him. He overcame the tempter by quoting from the Word of God, because He knew the scriptures and put his trust in His heavenly Father.

Jesus tells us the purpose of His mission to Earth: to bring life – He is the Lifegiver. In contrast to the thief who takes away, Jesus gives. In contrast to the killer, Jesus brings life. In contrast to the destroyer, Jesus builds up, He re-builds the broken.

The life Jesus brings is a quality of life – He calls this "abundant life" - life for all; not merely to exist, but to experience real living - new life in Christ!

How do I get this life? It's a gift. Jesus offers it to us - "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

"And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)

May you be strengthened this day in your resolve to possess the abundant life Jesus gives.

What will you do with Jesus?

Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Matthew 27:22

 

It was early on Friday morning, and Jesus stood before the judgment seat of Pilate, the Roman Governor. Pilate asked Him several questions, but Jesus remained silent.

Pilate had the opportunity to release Jesus then and there. He had even, that morning, received a message from his wife saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man.” She had dreamed, and in her dream been shown that Jesus was innocent.

Pilate was a fickle ruler – he was swayed by the people, and eventually he gave in to the mob and sent Jesus to His death.

We have just come through the Easter weekend. In my mind I contemplate that Friday morning long ago, when the Creator of the universe stood on trial before an earthly monarch.

The question comes to you and to me: “What then shall I do with Jesus?” Will we turn Him away? Or will we gladly invite Him into our lives each new day? – to lead and guide us on the journey.

 

“Once to every man and nation

Comes the moment to decide

In the strife of truth with falsehood

For the good or evil side.” (Anonymous)

Give thanks to God

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15

 

It is a good thing for us to stop a while and count our blessings. When we do so, we notice how blessed we are, and this generates a natural response of thankfulness.

But we are not only thankful for material blessings – we are also thankful for God's saving grace, without which, we would be nothing.

Paul tells us, in verses 10 & 11 of today's chapter: "Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God."

May you go forth into this day, thinking about today's verse, and with praise and thankfulness on your lips.

Trust in God with your entire heart

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3: 5 & 6　

To trust in another is difficult for us humans. We tend to follow our own path. We feel secure with our own reasoning.

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, advises us to trust in the LORD. The LORD, when written in the Bible in upper-case letters, is the self-Existent, Eternal God, Jehovah. He depends on no-one else; His creatures (that's us) depend on Him for every breath we take.

And so, in the light of who God is, Solomon's counsel in today's verse makes good sense.

But there's more: we are advised to trust in God with all our hearts. The heart is the seat of our emotions. The mind is the seat of our intellect and reasoning. Notice how the verse indicates to trust with both the heart and the mind: it goes on to say, "do not lean on your own understanding."

To acknowledge God is to admit that He is the Supreme Being in the Universe; it means to include Him in our plans; to give Him the leadership of our lives.

And when we acknowledge Him in all our ways - in one hundred percent of our activities - He becomes the Director of our paths. The director of a company is the top person, the operations leader.

Today, as you include God in all of your plans, take note of how He leads and blesses you on the road of life.

God is our Shelter and Strength

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." Psalm 46:1, 2.

When the troubles of life come upon us, and we need a place in which to take refuge, the Psalmist makes the positive statement that God is a safe place of shelter, and He is our strength.

In connection with the place of shelter, there are two identical refrains in the Psalm - verses 7 and 11: "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."

The LORD of hosts is the Commander of the armies of heaven (see Joshua 5:14 & 2 Kings 6:17).

The God of Jacob is the One who appeared at the ladder in Jacob's dream (see Genesis 28:12-15) to give Jacob comfort and hope - the One who promises us victory, the One who changed Jacob's name from "deceiver" to "overcomer", after he had wrestled with God (Genesis 32:22-30).

Because of the fact that God is very close to us (present) in times of trouble, and because He is our shelter and strength, we will not fear. Even if the unmovable things - the Earth - is removed; even if the mountains are carried into the middle of the sea (both of which are illustrations of large calamities that may come our way), the Psalmist gives us the assurance that we need not fear.

And so, you can confidently step into this new day, because "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."

God is, and all is well.

God is there for us

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." 1 Samuel 7:12

Our verse today comes at the end of a great victory for Israel over the Philistines. There was fear in the ranks of the Israelites (verse 7), when they heard that the armies of Philistia were gathered to attack them. They begged the prophet Samuel to continue asking God to save the nation from the hand of the Philistines, which he did while offering a lamb as a burnt offering to the LORD.

While he was offering the sacrifice, the Philistines advanced to start the battle, but then God moved in, in answer to the prophet's prayer. He "thundered a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day" (verse 10). The enemy became confused, and were overthrown by the army of Israel.

In the wake of the victory, Samuel set up a stone pillar, in remembrance of the help God had given them that day. This was a monument, no small stone. It was to remind them of God's deliverance then, and to let them know that He would be with them in the future. The word Ebenezer means "Stone of help".

Are you taking note of the times God has helped you in your emergencies? Remember, God will help you through each difficulty you face. No problem of yours is too big for Him to tackle, for He directs the affairs of the universe! Our help comes from the Lord.