Week 52: "By My Spirit"

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

• Sunday: Zechariah 4:1-5:11; Revelation 14:1-20; Psalm 142:1-7; Proverbs 30:21-23
• Monday: Zechariah 6:1-7:14; Revelation 15:1-8; Psalm 143:1-12; Proverbs 30:24-28
• Tuesday: Zechariah 8:1-23; Revelation 16:1-21; Psalm 144:1-15; Proverbs 30:29-31
• Wednesday: Zechariah 9:1-17; Revelation 17:1-18; Psalm 145:1-21; Proverbs 30:32
• Thursday: Zechariah 10:1-11:17; Revelation 18:1-24; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 30:33
• Friday: Zechariah 12:1-13:9; Revelation 19:1-21; Psalm 147:1-20; Proverbs 31:1-7
• Saturday: Zechariah 14:1-21; Revelation 20:1-15; Psalm 148:1-14; Proverbs 31:8-9

Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the book of Zechariah: 

Scripture: Zechariah 4:6
"Then he said to me, 'This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies.'"

Observation:
In the context of this passage, the Lord is assuring Zechariah that he will fulfill his promise to rebuild the Temple. But this was not to be accomplished by human ingenuity or effort; it would be accomplished by God's Spirit.

This is one of the most oft-quoted Old Testament verses because of the underlying principle: namely, the principle that God accomplishes everything he promises through his Spirit; not by human wit or strength. This universal truth brings a lot of comfort! It relieves us of the burden of fulfilling God's will in our lives and in the world by means of our own strength or will power.

God uses us to be sure, but he accomplishes his purposes with us, not because of us. In other words, to the extent that we are willing and able, God lets us participate with him in the realization of his divine purposes in the world. He uses us to the fullest extent possible, but his ultimate will is not thwarted if and when we fail. In fact, God sometimes uses our failures to accomplish his will!

Application:
The practical implications of this passage are profound. When we internalize the truth of this passage, we can, with the Psalmist, be still and know (experientially) that God is God (see Psalm 46:10).

I came across a sermon recently whose title captures perfectly the point I'm trying to make: "The Gospel Depends on a God Who does not Depend on You."

Some preach a very toxic gospel, which says, in essence, that God's purposes in the world, including the salvation of people's souls, depend on us...and that when we drop the ball or miss the mark, God's will goes unrealized. But God's word strikes a very careful balance between the existence of human "free will" and God's "sovereign will." In God's economy, both types of "will" fully exist without impinging on each other. How precisely this is the case is a matter of a much longer theological discussion.

For now, suffice it to say that the Christmas story is nothing less than the Gospel – the "Good News" of fulfilled promise in which God accomplishes for us what we could not accomplish for ourselves so that from here on out we would depend not on our own effort or ability but on the finished work of Christ. Because of him, and in light of our imperfect-yet-willing selves, we are the glad and happy recipients of the greatest gift known to humankind: the gift of everlasting life!

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
"How unsearchable his judgments,
"and his paths beyond tracing out!" (Romans 11:33)

Prayer:
O Lord, thank you for accomplishing for us what we could never have accomplished for ourselves. Amid all the glitter and clutter of this "holiday," which for many is anything but the "Holy Day" it deserves to be, please awaken us by your Spirit and enable us to feast on the truth of your Incarnation: "God is born; God is born indeed!" Amen.

Have a blessed Christmas!

Faithfully,
Chuck