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Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
Do you want a clear, simple, straightforward word from the Lord today? That’s what Zechariah gives us. He reminds us that God wants us to be fair, compassionate, caring, without prejudice, and tenderhearted to those in need and to give each other the benefit of the doubt. In other words, he wants us to treat each other like Christ treated people. Why? Because we can’t be right with God and be wrong with people! This reminds me of Micah’s inspired word:
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).
My Prayer…
Loving Father, please forgive me for the times I’ve gotten bogged down with hard-to-understand verses in Scripture and ignored your clear teaching on how to live with others. Please give me the opportunity this week to live what you have commanded me today. In the future, when my heart grows cold or my response to others is not what it should be, please use your Spirit to help me remember this passage so that I might live it to your will for my life and bring you glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Bible References
9 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
“In other words, he wants us to treat each other like Christ treated people. Why? Because we can’t be right with God and be wrong with people!”
From the Ten Commandments, five of them are involved in our relationship with others, for God is interested that we see others like He does, like Jesus did when He walked this earth. Justice, mercy and compassion are God’s attributes. We were created at God’s image. We are His children, and He is our Father. And like any father here on earth wants their children to look like him, our Heavenly Father desires from us that we look like Him. Wow! What a love that He have for us!
This attributes only function in our lives when we have love, when the love of God is in our lives.
Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and He has to guide us, we need a close relationship with Him to bear the fruit of love. Walking in the Spirit open our eyes to see people and help them in their needs, spiritual and material need. Walking in the Spirit help us to practice justice, righteousness, show mercy and compassion.
It is very important for a leader in the Body of Christ to serve in the love of God, and avoid oppressing others, the apostle Peter says in his letter: “…nor as being lords over those entrusted to you but being examples to the flock…” ( 1 Peter 5:3) But to be honest, respectful, and show mercy to them.
The Lord asks for our heart, (Proverbs 23:26) for our heart is deceitful and only He is the One who knows it. (Jeremiah 17:10) When our heart is the Lord’s we have peace, and our thoughts are pure, honest, like Paul says to the Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.” In doing all these what the Lord ask to do we honor Him, we give reverence to His word, and we live in victory, in freedom, in the light in the truth. Then we can say that we are blessed people! Hallelujah Praise the Lord!