3And he said to me, ˝This is ...

3And he said to me, "This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished.

4The Lord Almighty declares, ‘I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in that house and destroy it completely, both its timbers and its stones.’"

- P94

Zechariah sees a flying scroll, representing judgment against thieves andthose who swear falsely. He then sees a basket with a woman inside, symbolizing wickedness. The woman is sealed inside and carried away by twowinged women to Babylon, where a house will be built for it. - P95

The restoration of the temple, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem are threatened by the lawlessness in the land. In Zechariah’s vision of the flying scroll, God assures the prophet that the lawbreakers who threaten the future of God’s people will be destroyed. - P96

The purpose of law in any society is to maintain order and administer justice. But the reality is that many maintain lawless lives with impunity. Such increasing lawlessness tears at the very fabric of society. - P96

It’s easy to feel helpless, fearful, and even cynical when we witness injustice in our lives and world, but we can be certain that God will protect us as we seek to let His justice guide our choices and actions. - P96

Wickedness is symbolized as a woman in a basket that represents the pervasive spirit of iniquity that is found throughout the land. The word trans-lated iniquity means "twisted." After seventy years of exile in Babylon,
God‘s people carry deep spiritual scars, leaving them vulnerable to sin andhindering their relationship with God. God, however, commissions twoangels to carry the wickedness back to Babylon from where it came.  - P96

Life‘sexperiences can twist us in such a way that we struggle in what, at one time,
was a healthy, life-giving relationship with our Lord. But through the powerof His cross and resurrection, Jesus is able to remove our baskets of shameand sin and restore us to God. - P96

Lord Jesus, my spiritual eyes are focused on You and Your promises of forgiveness and restoration. - P96

. I know You have a great future planned for me. I trust You for my future and ask for patience as You lead me every step of the way. In Your name, amen. - P96

God converses with us primarily through His words in Scripture.
We can also use His words to respond to Him.
Use the following guide to pray through this week‘s memory verse.
"This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,‘ declares the LORD Almighty,
‘and I will return to you,‘ says the LORD Almighty." - Zechariah 1:3Praise 
Think of how God welcomes you whenever you repent. Praise Him for His eagerness tobe reconciled. - P97

6So he said to me, ˝This is t...

6So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. - P90

10"Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?" - P91

14So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth." - P91

Zechariah is awakened by the angel and shown a gold lampstand with a bowland seven lamps, and two olive trees beside it. The angel gives him God‘sencouragement to Zerubbabel. Zechariah asks about the olive trees andthe angel answers that they are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord. - P91

Zechariah’s vision now shifts to a lampstand of solid gold with seven lamps on it, along with one olive tree on each side of the lampstand. God also gives him a message of encouragement for Zerubbabel, the leader of the people, with the promise to turn a high mountain into level ground before him. - P92

Like the returning exiles and their leaders, some of us face a mountain of obstacles. By mere human effort, our obstacles are unconquerable. But the promise of God to Zerubbabel, and to all His servants facing impossible challenges is that His Spirit will raze the mountains into level paths. . - P92

We will face overwhelming tasks, but God never leads us into difficulties without making a way for us to be able to go through them - P92

God promises success for Zerubbabel in his work of rebuilding the temple.
He warns His people not to despise the day of small things since His owneyes rejoice at Zerubbabel‘s small beginnings on this momentous task.
- P92

God is the God of the small, the despised, and the weak. He uses boyswith slingshots to bring down giants, small bands of faithful warriors toovercome vast armies, and a blood-stained cross to defeat the arrogantpowers on earth and in the heavenly places.  - P92

Don‘t think for one momentthat your calling and ministry is of little or no account. In  - P92

the eyes of God,
it is a mustard seed that will have a vital place and purpose in His Kingdom. - P92

"Ordinary work matters to God because ordinary people matter to God."-CourtneyReissig - P92

This passage reminds us that it‘s not by our own power ormight, but by God‘s spirit that we are able to accomplish amazing thingsfor His glory.
I remember one instance in my life where this truth was very clear. Godopened the door for me to work at a wonderful Christian internationalschool in South Korea. I heard about the opportunity, applied for the job,
had an interview and was hired all within a matter of days. Because Godwanted me in that position, every obstacle was removed and He fit all thepieces together for me to succeed. If you are praying for something specific,
don‘t be discouraged.  - P93

Pray for God‘s will to be done then trust in His per-fect timing; He will flatten every mountain in order for His amazing plansto be accomplished in your life. - P93

Lord God, You are the source of my strength. You alone are all I need to confront and overcome any obstacle the enemy places in my way. - P93

Your promises are certain. May I rise up in faith, believing that nothing is impossible with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P93

Now Joshua was dressed in fil...

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.

4The angel said 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 fine garments on you."

- P86

"8o‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.

9See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.

10"‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,’ declares the Lord Almighty."

- P87

Zechariah sees Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord,
and Satan standing to accuse him. The Lord rebukes Satan and commandsJoshua‘s filthy clothes to be removed. Joshua receives clean garments and aturban.  - P87

The Lord promises that His servant, the Branch, will come and He willremove the sin of the land in one day. boomid - P87

In a vision, Zechariah sees Joshua the high priest standing before God in filthy clothes while Satan stands nearby to accuse him. God, however, rebukes Satan. He commands that Joshua’s filthy clothes be taken away and gives him fine, clean garments instead. - P88

Past sins often cling to us, keeping us from experiencing the bright future God has planned. Satan, the accuser, is quick to list all our offenses as we seek to renew a right relationship with our Lord. But the filthy rags of our past failures are removed by God’s grace, and in their place, we are clothed in robes of righteousness provided by our Lord. - P88

Our rags exchanged for robes; this is the message of the cross of Christ. - P88

God informs Joshua the high priest that he and his associates are symbolsof things to come. God promises that His servant, called the Branch, willcome and that He Himself will remove the sin of the land in a single day.
Scripture shows us that "the Branch" refers to the Messiah (see Isa. 11:1).
- P88

The stone with seven eyes or facets is a symbol of strength and the infinitewisdom found in Christ. Those who cling to the Branch and build theirlives upon the rock of His wisdom will know the forgiveness of their sins,
enter into healthy relationships with their neighbors, and experience theblessings that come from a relationship with God‘s Son in this life as wellas in the life to come. - P88

 We may start tothink of ourselves as beyond God‘s forgiveness and mercy.
CASo, what can we do to ensure that we don‘t fall into the enemy‘s trap? We fixour attention on what God says about us. The truth is, we are all unworthyof God‘s forgiveness based on our own merit; we have all sinned and fallenshort of God‘s standards for salvation. And that‘s why we desperately needJesus.  - P89

Psalm 103:12 tells us, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has heremoved our transgressions from us."
God doesn‘t dangle our failures in our faces. When we turn from our sinand commit our lives to Him, He.cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
Lay down your burdens of shame and defeat and accept God‘s healing andrestoration.  - P89

Just like in today‘s passage, God longs to take off our filthyrobes of past sin and failure, and instead give us His garments of dignity,purpose, and wholeness.
- P89

God, You are the God who removes our filthy rags and replaces them with clean, fine robes. - P89

My heart overflows in worship and praise for the cleansing power of Your Son’s blood shed on Calvary’s cross. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P89

God, help me to see my life, ...

God, help me to see my life, my relationships, and my world through Your eyes. May I learn to distinguish between the world’s way of thinking and the mind of Christ. Most of all, help me to rejoice in You more than I worry about my fears. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P84

5And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’

6"Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north," declares the Lord, "for I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven," declares the Lord.
- P81

God tells Zechariah that Jerusalem will no longer need walls in the future because He Himself will be their defense. Walls can be broken, as God’s people learned. But now it is God who will protect them with a wall of fire, and it is God who will dwell in the midst of His people, defending and providing. This message is just as relevant for our day and time. It encourages us to move past faith in worldly protection and power. - P-1

God’s promise of protection also applies to us. It does not mean we will never face trouble, but it does mean that, whatever we face, God will be with us to sustain us and see us through. - P-1

God, help me to see my life, my relationships, and my world through Your eyes. May I learn to distinguish between the world’s way of thinking and the mind of Christ. Most of all, help me to rejoice in You more than I worry about my fears. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P-1

12The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.

13Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling."

- P83

Zechariah sees a man with a measuring line. The angel says Jerusalem will be acity without walls, protected by the Lord.  - P83

The Lord calls His people to flee fromBabylon. He declares that whoever touches His people touches the apple ofHis eye. Many nations will join the Lord and become His people. - P83

God calls His people to rejoice because He is coming to live among them.
He also promises that many nations will be joined to Him and become Hispeople and He will dwell among them all. God calls all humankind to bestill because He is at work. This message would have been challenging forZechariah‘s Jewish audience: that God would call Gentiles His people. Perhaps it is challenging for some of us today as well.  - P84

Many of those we regardas enemies may someday be among us as friends, and more than friends,
brothers and sisters through Christ Jesus. God calls us to rejoice that He isamong us today, and to be still while He brings this extraordinary work ofsalvation to completion. - P84

Foundationalin the fight against anxiety is discovering a deeper joy and satisfactionGod. Steven Lee - P84

Take time to hike up a mountain and view your surroundings from above, or setaside time to look at a map of your region. Ask God what changes He has plannedyour city and your country. Prayerfully seek howbeing done on earth as it is in heaven.
foryou can be part of His will- Pastor Sam An - P85

14Then the angel who was spea...

14Then the angel who was speaking to me said, "Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion,

15and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.’

16"Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.

- P78

17"Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’"


- P78

18Then I looked up, and there before me were four horns.

19I asked the angel who was speaking to me, "What are these?" He answered me, "These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem."
- P78

God’s people, newly restored to their land, are living among the ruins of what was, at one time, the holy city of Jerusalem. The progress of rebuilding is painfully slow. It is, to say the least, a time when God appears distant, a time when faith is tested. Meanwhile, the nations around them are enjoying a time of peace and prosperity. But in spite of how things appear, God promises His blessings will once again be poured out upon His people. - P79

God’s words to Zechariah also speak to believers today whose lives lie in seemingly hopeless ruins. We may feel as if God is no longer present or at work, but He sends His word to remind us that He has not forgotten His chosen ones. - P79

Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to see my life and world through the eyes of faith. In a world of turmoil and strife, may I see beyond the circumstances of today and recognize the eternal nature of Your kingdom. In Your name, amen. - P80