Titus 1&2 -- A Generation Gap

Paul had left Titus in Crete to continue establishing a church there.  Paul wrote with authority, giving Titus a charge to appoint elders to help manage the church.  The traits he was to look for in candidates were designed to insure that God was glorified and man was not.

Paul recognized several ministries in the church in chapter 2.  Each was different and required a different approach to ministry.

The bottom line to all of this seemed to be found in 2:10 – “… so that in everything they do they will make the teaching of God attractive.”

Although there was a generation gap in this church, my commentary noted:  “The grace of God enables us to bridge the generation gap in the church.  One way to do this is for all members, young and old, to live up to the standards that God has set for our lives.”  There’s nothing unfair or one-sided about that!

Paul also told Titus to be the example more than being the exhorter.  “A pastor preaches best by his life … Whatever the pastor wants his church to be, he must first be himself.”

Father, help us in our own church to see the value You place on each person – particularly whatever age they are now.  Show us how valuable each is in helping build Your kingdom here on earth.  Let me not put anyone down.  Show me, instead, how You value them and are using them.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Zechariah 12-14 What An Ending!

With His great power, God will confuse the attackers coming against Jerusalem in the future and give its inhabitants great power to fight.  Seeing God fighting for them will open up their hearts to Him.  He’ll pour out a spirit of kindness and mercy on them and they will finally realize that Jesus is Messiah and that he is absolutely worthy of their respect.  In 12:11-14, we see that such true confession requires us to be alone with God.

Once the believing remnant understands their sin of rejecting Messiah, the fountain of His blood will purify them of that sin.  Even unclean spirits in the land will be removed.  There are remarkable Messianic verses to discover in these pages!

The Lord Himself will go to war with any nation that fights Israel, which will serve as proof that God is all-powerful and on His throne.  He will afflict the attackers with terrible diseases and Israel will easily collect the wealth left there by those armies.

When God establishes His kingdom and His throne in Jerusalem, all nations will come to worship Him during the Feast of Tabernacles.  Any nation not participating will receive no rainfall and a terrible disease will afflict those who don’t worship.  Everything will be set aside as holy in Jerusalem, and the priesthood of the believer will be the norm.  That will be the day!

Father, please show us Your power and might.  Remove uncleanness from us.  Cleanse us of desires that aren’t of You.  Help us to worship You completely and with a contrite heart.  Remove everything that hinders our worship of You!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Zechariah 9-11 Lots of Future History and More

Wow!  These chapters are chock full of “future history” (events that happened between then and now) and future events which still remain to be fulfilled.  My commentary says that the time we’re in fits between Zechariah 9:9 and 9:10.

The note that I found in my commentary that applies to us today says, “God’s people Israel will be regathered, redeemed, reunited as one nation, and rejoicing in the strength of the Lord.  But this same God can give the same blessings to His church today.  We’re a scattered people, divided and sometimes distant from each other, but the Lord can unite us in Christ and bring us together.  We’re fighting battles against the enemy, but the Lord can strengthen us and turn His helpless sheep into victorious war horses.  How much He is willing to do for us, if only we would admit our failures and unbelief and turn to Him for help.”

Father, we shouldn’t simply be waiting around for all of these prophecies to play out.  There’s a world that needs to know You and to also know that You have written the book and know the ending.  Help us to tell them and to lead them to You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Zechariah 5-7 And What About Tradition?

After receiving his remaining visions from God, Zechariah was tasked with answering a question.  While the Jews were in Babylon, they’d added four new fasts to commemorate sad events related to the destruction of Jerusalem.  Now that the Temple was rebuilt, several religious leaders came to him to inquire whether they needed to continue a fast that commemorated the Temple’s destruction.

Zechariah gave them some news they hadn’t expected.  He questioned their motives for fasting and feasting – whether it was being done to honor God or strictly out of tradition.  He questioned whether they were going through outward motions instead of honoring the Lord from their hearts.  “To institute four fasts because of the tragedies that occurred in Jerusalem, and yet not repent because of the sins that caused these tragedies, was to miss the whole purpose of God’s discipline,” my commentary said.  “History reveals that it’s a difficult thing for many people to break with tradition.  It’s easier to have a religion of habit than a religion of the heart.”

Father, guide me to not make my worship of You be based on tradition.  Give me a thankful and responsive heart that helps me to obey You for Your glory and for nothing else.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Zechariah 4 -- Letting God Take Care Of Discouragement

Zerubbabel was facing quite a task getting the new Temple built:  “Discouragement among the people, opposition from the enemies around them, poor crops, an unstable economy, people not obeying God’s law …” were among his obstacles.  Yet here, the angel tells Zechariah to let Zerubbabel hear this:  “’You will not succeed by your own strength or power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord All-Powerful.”  What an awesome motivational message!

Many were complaining because this new Temple was not going to be nearly as grand as Solomon’s Temple.  My commentary answered, “Never despise the day of small things, for God is glorified in small things and uses them to accomplish great things.”  The Lord spoke to Zechariah, saying, “The people should not think that small beginnings are unimportant.”  We need to take Him at His word on this even today!

Father, it’s so easy to let discouragement take hold in our lives.  Instead, please help us to look to You.  What You’re doing will succeed because You have ordained it, not because of our own supposed strength or might.  Our ability is not nearly as important as our availability and our dependence on You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Zechariah 3 -- A Courtroom Scene

In this night vision, Zechariah saw Joshua, the current High Priest, standing in front of Christ, the Angel of the Lord.  “Joshua is the defendant, Satan is the prosecuting attorney, and Jesus Christ is the defense attorney,” my commentary said.   The nation’s low spiritual level was evident in Joshua’s clothing, which the Hebrew word translates as “excrement-covered”.  “The Jews became defiled while they were attempting to serve the Lord.  If their service was unclean in God’s sight, what must their deliberate sins have been like!” my commentary added.

Satan tried to accuse, but God cut him off with His grace.  My commentary also added:  “When Satan talks to us about God, he lies, but when he talks to God about us, he tells the truth.”

Despite Satan’s accusations here, God cleansed and forgave, taking away sin.  “Don’t get the erroneous idea that the Father yearns to punish us and the Son pleads with Him to change His mind, because that isn’t the picture at all.  The Father and the Son both love us and want the best for us, but God can’t ignore our sins and still be a holy God.”

What Satan forgot was that he “cannot accuse us, nor God condemn us, for sins for which Christ died!” my commentary said.

Joshua (representing Israel) was cleansed and restored, and that “always involves responsibility.  Joshua and his fellow priests weren’t put on probation; they were cleansed and restored to service.”

Father, thank You for cleansing me when I sin and for not disqualifying me for service, but restoring me to service.  You love for me is incredible!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Zechariah 2 -- Jesus Talking About Us In The Old Testament!

Zechariah is given another night vision.  The Angel of the Lord, Jesus Christ in pre-incarnate form, is seen measuring Jerusalem – surveying it as only the owner and authority over it could do.  He makes an announcement that one day Jerusalem would see such expansion that the walls would be unable to contain it.  Jesus would protect it Himself, and His glory would reside there.  This would be such an encouragement to those working to rebuild the city at that time, in spite of enemy attacks.

Jesus says something here that I dearly love:  “Whoever touches you hurts what is precious to Me.”  As children of God, we are dear to His heart, and He watches over us with a strong love!

His future entrance into the city is once again announced, and He also says that people from all nations will be His people, and that we will know that God has sent Him.  What a wonderful day when the whole world understands!

Father, my heart overflows as I realize that, here in the Old Testament, You and Your Son were thinking about me – that You already knew that I’d become Yours, and that I would be precious to You, despite my sins!  Thank You for such wonderful encouragement!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford