Book of ZechariahSample

SOFTEN THE HEART OF GOD

These are the things you shall do: speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace. Zechariah 8:16.

Peace from the Lord fills the holy city of Jerusalem and Zion because God has chosen and appointed it to be a place for His people where they will glorify His name. Indeed, this nation was once banished. They experienced God's anger because of the deeds of their ancestors, but the Lord still loved and helped them and brought them back from exile. When God opens a door, no one can close it. That is how God opened the way for His people to return to Jerusalem.

It must have felt like a dream when God restored Zion, just like when He helps us through challenging situations. How could the rulers who captured God's people let them return to Jerusalem? It was not the work of man; this was a mighty deed of God. At times, we do not understand how God works; He can make people who have cheated us bless us so that many people can see His works and glorify Him. Restoration is our opportunity to tell people about the God we worship.

God gave an order to restore the Israelites back to Jerusalem, urging them to live righteously and be peacemakers for all people. God wants us to be fair, act righteously and bring peace to our neighborhood. Jesus also gave the same message to those He healed and restored, declaring that they should not sin again. Why? Because by sinning, they could unintentionally open the way for the evil one to work in their lives, making their situation even worse.

The Bible says that the devil is a thief, a murderer, and a destroyer who has no truth in him. We are indeed still surrounded by various types of people, acts of sins, and wickedness. The Lord says that we must bring peace to our neighborhood and keep our lives holy. We must remember that this restoration is not a work of man but a work of God. We worship a true God who tells us to live according to His standards by His word if we want to keep living in His blessings.

The righteous live in the shelter of the Lord and they will surely receive the best from the Lord.