This Day in History: 0000-09-07

September 7 – Zechariah 4:6 & 10

…It is not by force nor by strength, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies…
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…

It’s hard to be patient isn’t it? We want to see results and we want to see them now. Especially when it comes to the big stuff – the stuff that changes lives.

This message in Zechariah was given for Zerubbabel, the man tasked to rebuild the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem after the long exile in Babylon. I imagine him standing in a pile of temple rubble, taking inventory of all that needed to be done and feeling completely inadequate for the task at hand. He likely looked at the meager work already finished and rolled his eyes, overwhelmed by the scale of what lay ahead.

I can certainly relate to those feeling, can’t you? And the things I have to accomplish don’t even come close to comparing to the job of rebuilding the Temple of the Lord! Still, I scoff at what’s been accomplished, and cower before the load of work ahead. Friends, these words of the Lord to Zerubbabel are no less relevant to us! Let’s allow Him to speak them into our hearts and remind us of who is ultimately in control.

It really doesn’t matter how big the mountain seems. It won’t be moved by force or strength. Nothing in our power will ever see it done. BUT… The Spirit of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies fights on our team! His power alone will cast that mountain into the depths of the sea. In His time, and in His way.

So may we never become discouraged by our small beginnings!