Blog Archives - Created through Him

Created Through Him

Whom they have pierced

10/31/2012

10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn (Zechariah 12:10).

In this, another messianic prophecy, Christ is pierced (remember he was pierced by the Roman solider) on our behalf. As a result, grace is poured out on us all. Zechariah looked hundreds of years into the future to the time that Christ’s work on the cross would result in the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is poured out on all that will call upon the Name of the Lord. The spirit of grace is the good news of the Gospel.

He is just

10/30/2012

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass (Zechariah 9:9).

This prophecy of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem was written hundreds of years before the actual day. We know from all 4 Gospel accounts that Christ fulfilled this prophecy on Palm Sunday. The prophecy is one of a few documented in all the Gospel accounts and shows its’ significant. Christ is king. He is a just king and is the author of our salvation. Christ’s rule as king brings peace to our lives.

These things we should do

10/29/2012

16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: 17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord (Zechariah 8:16-17).

God commands that we treat other people well. In fact, God hates when we don’t treat people, as we should. God is really telling us to worry about our actions rather than someone else’s. We can only control what we do and as such are responsible to obey God. An important part of treating people well is to be truthful. Being truthful includes telling them about the good news of the Gospel.

And many nations shall be joined to the Lord

10/28/2012

10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. 11 And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee (Zechariah 2:10-11).

The promises of God are irrevocable. Irrevocable promises are good news for us. They are good news because they imply that God is the one doing the action to accomplish the promise. And through God’s sovereign choices many will be joined to Him. This is the Gospel: the good news of the revelation of Jesus Christ to a people in need of salvation. It is through Christ that we are joined to the Lord.

The remnant

10/27/2012

12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord. 13 Then spake Haggai the Lord's messenger in the Lord's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord (Haggai 1:12-13).

The pattern of obedience (faithfulness) followed by the Lord’s presence is repeated throughout scripture. Haggai is prophesying at a time immediately after captivity, before Jerusalem and the Temple had been rebuilt. A sign of the restoration of the relationship between God and His people is the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple. So in response to the faithfulness of a remnant, God promises to restore and bless. Notice too that it is the remnant that responds. God through all times has maintained a faithful remnant. All the way back in early Genesis we have the holy line established through Seth; Noah and the seven others that were spared from the destruction of the Flood; the blessing of Abraham by Melchizedek; Isaac as the son of the promise; Jacob as the chosen son; Moses and the people led out of captivity, and the list goes on. Faithfulness of the remnant brings about the blessings of God.

God is mighty to save

10/26/2012

17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

When we are in God’s presence we will be aware of His might. Additionally, the presence of God brings joy. The joy proceeds from the restoration of the relationship between God and Man. The restoration is a result of God’s mighty act of salvation. The act of salvation benefits us but also brings joy to God as well. Our mighty God desires to restore and save.

Seek the Lord

10/25/2012

3 Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger (Zephaniah 2:3).

We are to seek the Lord and His righteousness in a spirit of meekness. The purpose of seeking God and God’s righteousness is so that we will be protected against God’s wrath and judgment. It is difficult for us to think in these terms. We know that God is love, but God is not just a God of love. God is holy and as a result, God’s justice is not our justice. God’s justice must be satisfied. The word meekness is used in this passage for a specific reason as well. We are not the ones that carryout God’s justice; we are to be humble and meek. This is so because it is only through God’s grace that we are saved. We in turn should be gracious and kind to those around us and perhaps through our example will help others seek God’s righteousness.

Knowledge of the glory of God

10/24/2012

14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).

Evidence of the glory of God in Creation abounds. Therefore, the knowledge of God and God’s glory surrounds us. The issue for the Created being is whether the evidence of God is acknowledged and therefore is manifested as knowledge. But acknowledgement has no bearing on either truth or reality. Both truth and reality are what they are apart from whether we acknowledge them. The truth is that the earth has been filled with the knowledge of the glory of God from the beginning.

Trust in Him

10/23/2012

7 The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him (Nahum 1:7).

There is no substitute for God and God’s sovereignty. In times of trouble it is in God that we should place our trust. Trust in God is trust well founded. There is none other than God that is truly good and truly strong. Placing our ultimate trust in anything other than God is settling for an unworthy substitute. Additionally, we cannot deceive God; God knows all that really trust Him. Trust God in and for all things.

My God will hear me

10/22/2012

7 Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me (Micah 7:7).

The reference point that we should look to is God. God’s sovereignty mandates that he is unchangeable and steady. When we look to God, God is always faithful. In this passage from Micah, Micah is disappointed in people and in desperation and frustration he calls out to God. The never changing God of all-Creation hears our call, and saves.

Created Through Him