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Not In Temples Made By Man
Marsha KochiZechariah 7:4-10 MSG
"GOD -of-the-Angel-Armies gave me this Message for them, for all the people and for the priests: “When you held days of fasting every fifth and seventh month all these seventy years, were you doing it for me? And when you held feasts, was that for me? Hardly. You’re interested in religion, I’m interested in people.
“There’s nothing new to say on the subject. Don’t you still have the message of the earlier prophets from the time when Jerusalem was still a thriving, bustling city and the outlying countryside, the Negev and Shephelah, was populated? [This is the message that GOD gave Zechariah.] Well, the message hasn’t changed. GOD -of-the-Angel-Armies said then and says now: “‘Treat one another justly. Love your neighbors. Be compassionate with each other. Don’t take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor. Don’t plot and scheme against one another—that’s evil.’”
The Lord is interested in our hearts, our decisions, and our intent, not in our religiosity. He is the same yesterday, today and will be the same tomorrow. The Lords Word, nor His character, did not and will not change.
Sometimes I get so caught up in the task, the project that's due, the message that I haven't worked on yet, that I lessen my dependence on the Lord and I look for human perfection to complete the assignment. I may be so focused on the work, that I'm not looking at the relationships, my friendships as priority. My thoughts are all over the place, 'the task has a deadline, people will understand'. Am I missing the mark, am I taking for granted the relationships that is much more meaningful to the Lord? Am I building a temple, but losing my heart.
Heavenly Father. Your will be done. Forgive me for the times that I've built a temple of works, tasks, assignments, but did it because I had to meet a requirement. Forgive me for excluding the very One that I live for, that I serve and worship. Thank You for reminding me that religion, a temple, works are merely words used to recognize a journey. Heart, obedience and love is what matters to You. "Zechariah fore shadows a clear and powerful picture of Jesus the One who would dwell, not in temples made with hands, but within the hearts of men." Help me to never lose the joy and the heart of serving You.
