Welcome back to Word Wednesday! This week, we look at Zechariah. Next week, we wrap up the Old Testament in Malachi. If you’re new to Word Wednesday, here’s the downlow… You read this week’s book, choose the verse God lays on you the hardest, and come here to tell us about it. I’m having so much fun in this. It’s really reminded me that each book is rich and living. No matter how long or how short, it’s relevant and beautiful and alive. I love His Word more than ever!
Zechariah 3:4 (NIV)–The angel sad to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.”
Is there a more New Testament verse in the Old Testament than this one? It just makes you want to jump up and shout, “YES!”
Sad thing is, this is an easy verse to kind of skim right over. But if we put down some tent stakes and camp on it a while, God will show up and tell us a whole story around the campfire. It begins and ends with Jesus. If you’re like me, you know just how filthy (And isn’t that an awesome word? It’s past dirty. It’s pure ol’ nasty. Isn’t that what sin is?) your sins made you. There is a depth of awareness when God gets ahold of us that really makes us see how bad off we were in our muck. My problem is, I tend to focus on one or two “big sins.” Truth is, every sin is a “big sin.” And I daily (hourly, “secondly”) commit a new one. Daily, I get myself all dirty again.
And daily, Jesus clothes me in his rich garments. Oh man, that makes me want to cry. Every single day, Jesus cleans me up again. It’s not a once-for-all kind of thing… it’s a day-by-day, moment-by-moment occurrence. The amazing thing is, Jesus never shakes his head and says, “Know what? You got dirty one too many times and there are no more clean clothes.” Nope. He just keeps right on washing me clean. I’m not sure I’m equipped to handle that kind of love and grace.
That brings me to a bonus verse from Zechariah 4:6b–“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty. He cleanses us by His Spirit. He helps us accept grace by His Spirit. He saves, protects, and redeems us by His Spirit. How great, great, great is our God!!!
-JB
Jen says
I chose 4:6b, too. I’d picked it a few weeks ago when I read ahead, but it was especially poignant today. My kids were absolutely crazy this morning (one of those days when even the well-behaved ones seem to have lost their minds), and I realized after reading this verse that it’s because I really have no power over them. Short of duct taping them to a chair, there’s very little I can do to MAKE them do what I want. Instead, it’s God’s presence- in me and in them- that allows us to have good days. Without it, I’ll surely lose my patience and they will most definitely cry, hit, take toys, and do whatever else they can to get what they want. “Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit”…. I’m thinking I need to hang that on my wall to remind me to rely on HIM instead of my own “power.”
Jodie says
Now THAT is a unique way of looking at it, and a true way too. I figured out very early in my teaching career that the only thing keeping those kids in line was God’s grace. There were more of them than of me, so they didn’t HAVE to do a thing I said. I thank God that they did, though!
Jessica R. Patch says
Awesome!! Humbles me everytime I read this passage. Jesus advocating then…and still advocating and praying for me now!
This week has been tough with the loss of my bff’s son in a car accident on Memorial Day. It’s knowing how awesome God is that is getting me through…knowing that Christopher is with Jesus, maybe even getting an earshot of His prayers for us!
Excellent post. Can’t wait for Malachi…I’m lovin the refiner’s fire! 🙂
Jodie says
Thanks, Jessica! I had no idea about your friend’s son, since I’ve been slightly south of AWOL lately online. Praying!
Dawn Lucowitz says
Zechariah 1:3 – Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,” declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.
This is so simple, yet we screw it up like crazy. We as individuals and We collectively as a people. God has shown us time and again what happens when people follow and don’t follow his leading. He has given example after example of his people falling away and all the terrible things that happen when this occurs. Somehow, though, we still continue to mess this up.
I am so thankful that no matter how many times, or how big we mess us, we just need to return. He is always there and always will be. We need to return and learn our lesson and stop falling away!
Jodie says
Love His grace! Funny how we gripe and complain that God’s not around and we ask, “How could God let these horrible things happen,” when we spend most of our time shoving Him out of the way. Amazing that He is waiting for us to come back to Him. That’s so incredible. Almighty God waits for us. How does that even make sense?