#DailyDevotion We Have A New Life In Christ
Zech. 8 14The LORD of armies said this: “As I decided to harm you when your fathers made Me angry,” says the LORD of armies, “and I didn’t change My mind, 15so I have decided again in these days to be good to Jerusalem and the people of Judah. Don’t be afraid. 16“But you should do these things: Tell one another the truth; provide true and good justice within your city gates. 17Don’t plan to harm another, and don’t love to swear to lies, because I hate all these things,” says the LORD.
Holy, LORD GOD of Sabaoth, that is who is speaking here. The LORD reminds the returning exiles who are rebuilding the temple why they were exiles in the first place. Their fathers made the LORD angry. Well how did they do that? Well if you look at verses 16 and 17 here you will see. Jer. 9 says, 3“They use their tongue like a bow that is bent to shoot a lie. Falsehood, not truth, prevails in the land because they go from one evil to another and don’t know Me,“ says the LORD.” Isa. 59 says, “Their feet run to do evil. They hurry to pour out innocent blood. They plan to do wrong. On the roads they travel there is desolation, destruction, and crime. 8They don’t know the way of peace. Where they go, there is no justice. They make crooked paths for themselves, and whoever walks there will not know peace.” This is what Israel and Judah were like before the exile. This is why the LORD of armies sent the Assyrians and then the Babylonians to destroy the country and exile the people. The LORD said He was going to do it and He didn’t change His mind. But He gave a promise that the Babylonian exile would only last 70 years.
When the LORD decides again to be good to Jerusalem and Judah it isn’t capricious. It was His plan all along. The LORD would live up to His name, He who is merciful, gracious, steadfast in love, forgiving iniquity, sin, and transgressions while disciplining those who sin. Because of His name and His faithfulness to Himself the people need not fear. They don’t need to be afraid. The LORD’s name is good news. Throughout the Bible the LORD gives us a number of reasons to not be afraid, to not fear. Contrary to the Christian myth makers, there are not 365 times in the Bible God says to not fear. It’s more like 275 or there about. The LORD speaking it ONCE is enough! The angels at Jesus’ birth tell the shepherds in the field to not fear for the Savior has been born. Jesus entering the locked room after His resurrection tells His disciples to not fear. All these places in the Scriptures which say, “do not fear,” are for us as well. For Jesus the LORD of armies is for us and not against us. He shows us He is for us by going to the cross and dying for our sins, trespasses and iniquities. He justifies us ungodly by giving us faith in His work on the cross. He gives us peace before the throne of God the Father declaring us and then making us holy, righteous, without spot or stain. He credits us with His righteousness.
So the LORD of armies tells them how to live. Tell the truth. Do justice. Don’t harm one another. All these are in the commandments. The LORD hates the opposite of these things. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Lying opposes Jesus directly. Injustice opposes Jesus as the Way. Causing harm opposes Jesus as the Life. As people who have been redeemed by Jesus and His precious blood, we too should live our lives in the person of Jesus of being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He calls us to live His life and gives us His Holy Spirit so we may be able to walk in life. We must tell our fallen flesh no when it tempts us to lie, treat wrongly or harm others. We have been delivered from that life to live the life of Jesus.
Heavenly Father, continually give us Your Holy Spirit so we may live lives pleasing to You and which reflect the glory of Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.