Title: The Life God Knows
Zechariah (20) The life that God knows (Zechariah 6:14-15)
1. A life of quiet devotion
After the eight visions, God commands the high priest Joshua to be crowned (verses 9-13). And he commanded that the crown be placed in the house of the Lord to commemorate Helem, Tobiah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah, who contributed to the building of the temple (verse 14). These words are not meant to show devotion. The quiet devotion of a saint is as difficult as carrying the cross. But quiet devotion echoes in the heart of God more than any devotion.
You don't have to advertise when you're dedicated. The more you promote your dedication, the less God remembers you. God remembers and repays more when the left hand does not know the dedication of the right hand. If someone recognizes my devotion, accept it with joy, but if someone does not recognize you, do not be offended and accept it with gratitude. Then God will know more.
2. Life to build the church
In verse 15 of the text, “a man comes from afar and builds the house of the Lord” means that the church will be built around Gentiles at the first coming of the Lord. Did the Gentiles, then, inherit the privileged position of the Lord from Israel? no. The work of establishing the church through the Gentiles is to awaken Israel rather than abandon them and to allow them to participate in the blessings of the Gentiles who build the church. This verse well suggests that the life of building the church is a blessed and privileged life.
There are negative aspects to the church, but in general, the church does a lot of good things that other communities cannot do. Moreover, there are still many faithful people who are working in the shadows to make the church beautiful. Such people are the hope of the church. So, the church is still a source of hope and a power plant of hope. Also, despite the many negative aspects of the church, God still works through the church.
Since the church in the human world is not perfect, you can criticize the church as a member of the church. However, even when criticizing edification, use a loving critique of building up the church while clarifying your identity as a member rather than a sharp criticism that forgets your identity as a member and destroys the church. Furthermore, try to go on the right path yourself so that the church can go on the right path. Then God will know the truth of that heart and make the church more like a church.
3. A life of obedience to the Word
When will the Jews join in the blessings of the Gentiles who will establish the church? It is time to heed the word of the Lord (verse 15). In particular, the word ‘obedient’ in the text means ‘to listen carefully’, which is used when complete obedience is supported by actions, not just the act of listening with the ears. God is more pleased with the life of obedience to the Word than any other life.
Why do believers have problems and prayer topics? It is God's will to lead us to the path of truth through obedience to the Word and ultimately to the path of blessing. The truth does not come when you are prosperous, but usually in trouble. Therefore, the problem is a golden opportunity to realize the truth. If you make good use of that chance, obey the Word and bow down, you can pick up the stones of truth and blessings scattered everywhere. In the end, in an obedient life, problems become blessings.
The Word is the source of life and the beginning of wisdom. Also, the Word is a bundle of joy, a soul ointment that brightens people's eyes, and a cleansing agent for the soul that wipes away dirt from the soul. When we obey the Word, we will not be dragged around hopelessly by the inner darkness. The eyesight of the sickly and darkened soul becomes brighter and brighter through the eye drops of the Word accompanied by pain and sorrow. Even the great darkness becomes a great passageway to the truth through great obedience.