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Man's Efforts
“This is the
word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My
Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6)
Two years ago, my wife and I purchased a
hammock in a village south of Cancun, Mexico, intending to use it on
our return. A few days ago, I decided it was time to put it up, and
proceeded into the back yard, tools in hand, ready to install the
hammock under the eaves. My first attempt looked good, but when I
climbed into the hammock to test it out, one of the knots failed,
the hammock fell, and I landed on the concrete. I only fell about
five inches, which didn't seem to be a great problem, and so I tried
it again. This time, I used metal strapping, tied much better
knots, and climbed into the hammock once more. Unbelievably, it
fell another time. A portion of the metal strapping had broken.
Again, I only fell a few inches, but this time, one of the thick
wooden bars which hold the hammock's shape at either end, shot
forward and hit the top of my head. I now had a headache, my back
was starting to hurt, and I decided that my "comedy" act was over
for the day.
When I told a friend (who, unlike me, IS
mechanically inclined) about the occurrence, he demonstrated what he
thought I must have looked like while the contraption was falling
(it WAS funny), and asked me to re-enact what happened for his video
camera. I declined as politely as possible.
To God, our best efforts as humans must
look very much like my work as a hammock installer. I meant well
and was very sincere, but the end result was not what was intended.
He has a very distinct plan for your life, just as He does for
mine. You might think, "I'm too old", or "I'm too young," or "I'm
not able to do that right now," when He calls you to some work or
another, but it is God who will bring all things to pass; for it
does not depend on your efforts or mine.
As my wife, my
friend, and the Lord are helping me discover; I’m one of those
people who needs an expert. I need a professional in the field,
because my efforts in certain areas, just fall short. And that’s
true in relation to the Lord. Our attempts “fall
short of the grace of God” (Hebrews 12:15), and we need an
Expert to help us, for we are to live life, “not
by might nor by power, but by
(His) Spirit” (Zechariah
4:6)
At the time the
Book of Zechariah was written, King Darius (see Daniel Chapter 11),
had passed from the scene, and Xerxes, the man who made Esther the
queen of Persia, was on the throne of the Persian Empire. A number
of Jewish settlers had been allowed to return from the place that
once had been the Babylonian Empire, to the area of Jerusalem, and
Zerubbabel was the local Governor. The place had been in ruins, and
at the time of Zechariah’s prophesies, some rebuilding of Jerusalem
had occurred. The temple was half completed, but they had grown
tired, their strength was gone, they lost interest, and the task was
not completed.
It was at that
moment the Prophet Zechariah was sent to encourage them. His name
meant “God remembers” and that
theme dominates the whole Book. Israel is blessed, because God
REMEMBERS the covenant He made with the nation, just as He remembers
you, through the covenant He gave to the world in Christ Jesus.
A “covenant” is
a contract. Have you thought about the contract we have been
offered in Christ?” A “contract” typically has three elements: An
Offer, Acceptance, and a Reasonable Consideration. The Father
offers His Son, Jesus Christ, to you. You accept by trusting in God
through Him. A “Reasonable Consideration” is something of realistic
value, given in exchange for signing the contract. The blood of
Jesus Christ has infinite value, and is the “Consideration” for our
contract with Him.
In the Law, we
see that “the life of the flesh is in the
blood,” and “I (God)
have given it to you upon the altar to
make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes
atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11). A prophetic
visual image was given, demonstrating that one life could be given
in place of another. We see this daily when we eat food. Something
(a plant, an animal) must die today, in order that you may continue
to live. But you need more than just “life” in this world – you
need the Lord. “If the blood of bulls and
goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies
for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without
blemish to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the
living God?” (Hebrews 9:13-14). You are made right with God
through the blood of Jesus Christ.
As stated, the
temple was half-completed at the time Zechariah wrote, and God
wanted it to be finished. What is undone in YOUR life? It is true
that all of us lack the supernatural ability and even the will, to
accomplish God’s purposes in this world, but what we cannot do, God
has done – in Christ Jesus. Whatever God has called or will call
you to do, it is not to be done in your strength, for HE will bring
it to pass. He will empower you physically and spiritually. The
outward motions will be yours, but the victory is His.
I need
instructions on how to hang that hammock, for trying to do it with
my own hands and ingenuity, is insufficient for the task. It was
good that I tested it, because if was raised further from the
ground, someone (like my wife) might have been injured. Before too
much time has passed, I will go to a hardware store that I know
about, where I can get written instructions and ask someone
competent to tell me what parts will do the job. When you need
help, go to an expert!
The Lord is our
Expert, and He will do much more than we ever thought. He has given
us our physical abilities, willingness and ingenuity, but we also
need His written Word, to show us how to live. And we need His
Spirit to help us understand those instructions. “Not
by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6) is
how we need to do – everything!
Lord, let us
trust in You. Our efforts have not done the job and we are tired
from trying. We trust in You, now. Forgive us, Lord. Send us Your
Spirit and let us live in His power, not in our own. In Jesus
Name. Amen.
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
E-mail:
Ron@FridayStudy.org
Tel: (562) 688-5559
PO Box 92131
Long Beach, CA 90809-2131
"While
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"
(Romans 5:8) |
