Morning, September 26 Go To Evening Reading
“The myrtle trees that were in the bottom.”
—Zechariah 1:8
The vision in this chapter describes the condition of Israel in Zechariah’s day, but being interpreted in its aspect toward us, it tells the Church of God as we find it now in the world. The Church is compared to a myrtle grove flourishing in a valley. It is hidden, unobserved, secreted, courting no honor and attracting no observation from the careless gazer. The Church, like her head, has a glory, but it is concealed from carnal eyes, for the time of her breaking forth in all her splendor is not yet come. The idea of tranquil security is also suggested: the myrtle grove in the valley is still calm while the storm sweeps over the mountain summits. Tempests spend their force upon the craggy peaks of the Alps, but down yonder where flows the stream which maketh glad the city of our God, the myrtles flourish by the still waters, all unshaken by the impetuous wind. How great is the inward tranquility of God’s Church! Even when opposed and persecuted, she has a peace which the world gives not and which, therefore, it cannot take away: the peace of God which passeth all understanding keeps the hearts and minds of God’s people. Does not the metaphor forcibly picture the peaceful, perpetual growth of the saints? The myrtle sheds not her leaves; she is always green, and the Church in her worst time still hath a blessed verdure of grace about her; nay, she has sometimes exhibited most verdure when her winter has been sharpest. She has prospered most when her adversities have been most severe. Hence the text hints at victory. The myrtle is the emblem of peace and a significant token of triumph. The brows of conquerors were bound with myrtle and laurel, and is not the Church ever victorious? Is not every Christian more than a conqueror through him that loved him? Living in peace, do not the saints fall asleep in the arms of victory?
Go To Morning Reading Evening, September 26
“Howl, fir tree, for the cedar is fallen.”
—Zechariah 11:2
When the crash of a falling oak is heard in the forest, it is a sign that the woodman is abroad, and every tree in the whole company may tremble lest tomorrow the sharp edge of the axe should find it out. We are all like trees marked for the axe, and the fall of one should remind us that for everyone, whether great as the cedar or humble as the fir, the appointed hour is stealing on apace. I trust we do not, by often hearing of the death, become callous to it. May we never be like the birds in the steeple, which build their nests when the bells are tolling and sleep quietly when the solemn funeral peals are startling the air. May we regard death as the most weighty of all events and be sobered by its approach. It ill behooves us to sport while our eternal destiny hangs on a thread. The sword is out of its scabbard—let us not trifle; it is furbished, and the edge is sharp—let us not play with it. He who does not prepare for death is more than an ordinary fool; he is a madman. When the voice of God is heard among the garden's trees, let fig tree, sycamore, elm, and cedar alike hear the sound.
Be ready, servant of Christ, for thy Master comes on a sudden when an ungodly world least expects him. See to it that thou be faithful in his work, for the grave shall soon be dug for thee. Be ready, parents, see that your children are brought up in fear of God, for they must quickly be orphans; be prepared, men of business, take care that your affairs are correct and that you serve God with all your hearts, for the days of your terrestrial service will soon be ended. You will be called to account for the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or evil. May we all prepare for the tribunal of the great King with a care which shall be rewarded with the gracious commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Spurgeon, C. H. Morning and Evening: Daily Readings. London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896. Print.
September 26: Unexpected Opportunities
Zechariah 8:1–9:17; Acts 23:23–24:27; Job 30:1–15
When we are busy doing the kingdom's work, how do we respond to obstacles that get in our way? Do we expect God to blast a path straight through so we can proceed? We might read the drama of Paul’s life through this lens, waiting anxiously for God to open the way for Paul to continue his spectacularly successful work. Instead, God allows Paul to be imprisoned and put on trial.
But as Paul defended himself before Roman officials, he recognized that God was using him in ways he hadn’t expected. Paul's conflict and rejection from the Jews allowed him to share the gospel with some of the most influential Gentiles he would ever meet.
God used Paul’s trials to expand his ministry from the Jews to the Gentiles. Through Paul’s life, God displayed His power to bring about the growth of the Church and spread the gospel message far beyond Israel.
God is working in and among us to bring the good news to those we don’t have in our field of vision. We should reconsider our attitude toward the conflicts and disappointments in our lives, instead seeking God’s providential hand in them.
How can you pray for wisdom to see God at work in all the circumstances of your life?
Rebecca Van Noord
Barry, John D., and Rebecca Kruyswijk. Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012. Print.
September 26th
The unblameable attitude
If … thou rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee … Matthew 5:23.
If when you come to the altar, there you remember that your brother has anything against you, not—If you rake up something by a morbid sensitiveness, but—“If thou rememberest,” that is, it is brought to your conscious mind by the Spirit of God: “first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Never object to the intense sensitiveness of the Spirit of God in you when He educates you down to the scruple.
“First be reconciled to thy brother …” Our Lord’s direction is simple—“first be reconciled.” Go back the way you came, go the path indicated to you by the conviction given at the altar; have an attitude of mind and a temper of the soul to the one who has something against you that makes reconciliation as natural as breathing. Jesus does not mention the other person; he says—you go. There is no question of your rights. The stamp of the saint is that he can waive his own rights and obey the Lord Jesus.
“And then come and offer thy gift.” The process is clearly marked. First, the heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, then the sudden checking by the sensitiveness of the Holy Spirit, and the stoppage at the point of conviction; then the way of obedience to the word of God, constructing an unblameable attitude of mind and temper to the one with whom you have been in the wrong; then the glad, simple, unhindered offering of your gift to God.
Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year. Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering, 1986. Print.
September 26
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom
Ps. 90:12
Every day is a little life, and our whole life is but a day repeated: whence it is that old Jacob numbers his life by days, and Moses desires to be taught this point of holy arithmetic—to number not his years, but his days. Those who dare lose ausly prodigal; those who day are dangerous dare misspend it, desperate.
Bishop Hall
Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.
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