Good Morning Everyone,
This morning I leave on a two week mission trip to Peru. I will be taking a twenty-five member team to conduct free medical and dental clinics in the Andes Mountains north of Cusco.
Usually when I go on these mission trips, in the weeks before the trip, I double-up on my daily writing. Therefore by the time I leave the country I have all the daily devotional messages for the next two weeks prepared in advance. Then Allen Foster sends them out for me each day. Unfortunately this time I wasn’t able to do that. Life and ministry has been so busy that I simply did not have the time to write the extra devotional messages.
That being the case, this will have to be the last daily devotional until I get back in two weeks. I plan to resume sending them on Monday July 20th. Thanks for your understanding. Please pray for our mission team. Please pray for safe travel, that all of our supplies will make it through Peruvian Customs ok, and please pray for fruitful ministry.
Our theme for this month: “Faith”
Our Bible verse for today: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts?” Zechariah 8:4-6 (NRSV)
Our thought for today: “With the Lord there is always the promise of better days ahead.”
In yesterday’s devotional we considered the sad state of affairs the people of Israel found themselves in. The city of Jerusalem was still in ruins. The Temple had yet to be rebuilt. They were surrounded by hostile people who conspired for their ruin. The prospect of rebuilding the city and restoring the Temple seemed impossible.
But with God there is always the promise of better days. God has a plan and a future for those who belong to Him and who love Him. As we learned yesterday, our job is to simply be faithful in the little things – day-by-day, and trust the future to the Lord. That’s what Zechariah was calling the people to do and so in this passage, he gives them a preview of what their faithfulness will lead too – a rebuilt city, a restored Temple, safe and contented old people, and happy children playing in the streets.
Here are two additional encouraging thoughts the Lord had Zechariah deliver to His people on His behalf:
“Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you.” Zechariah 1:3
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6
Even in the midst of life situations that seem hopeless, with God there is always hope, there is always the promise of better days ahead. Return to Him, be faithful, trust in His might and in His power rather than in your own. In His time the sun will shine again, the birds will sing, the children will play in the streets, and your life will be back on track.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 