Returning to God: A Call for Spiritual Renewal

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Renewal Over Physical Restoration

The call to return to God is a profound invitation to spiritual renewal rather than merely physical restoration. In the book of Zechariah, the people of Judah are urged to remember their identity and the love they are called to embody. This call is not just about returning to a physical homeland but about a deeper, spiritual awakening. In today's world, the church often finds itself in a state of confusion and disunity, much like the people of Judah. The message of Zechariah challenges us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and seek a renewal of our hearts and spirits. This renewal involves a reawakening to our true identity in God and a commitment to live out His love in our communities. [07:26]

Zechariah 1:3-4 (ESV): "Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the Lord."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need spiritual renewal? How can you actively seek to embody God's love in your community today?

Day 2: Contingent and Unconditional Promises

Zechariah's visions reveal the nature of God's promises, which are both contingent and unconditional. The contingent promises require our return and repentance, while the unconditional ones assure us of God's ultimate plan for redemption. This dual nature of God's promises invites us to actively participate in His plan through repentance and faith. It also reassures us that, regardless of our actions, God's overarching plan for redemption through Jesus Christ remains steadfast. As we navigate our spiritual journeys, we are called to respond to God's contingent promises with obedience and trust in His unconditional love and redemption. [10:10]

Zechariah 8:7-8 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to return to God in repentance? How can you trust in His unconditional promises today?

Day 3: Embracing a Vision of Hope and Restoration

The dreams in Zechariah, filled with symbolic imagery, remind us that our return to God involves embracing a vision of hope and restoration for the community, not just personal repentance. These dreams, with their vivid imagery of red horses, flying scrolls, and olive trees, symbolize the spiritual realities and promises of God. They challenge us to look beyond our individual spiritual journeys and consider the broader vision of hope and restoration that God has for our communities. As we return to God, we are called to participate in His work of restoring and renewing the world around us, embodying His love and justice in tangible ways. [12:05]

Zechariah 4:6-7 (ESV): "Then 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 of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of Grace, grace to it!'"

Reflection: How can you contribute to the vision of hope and restoration in your community? What practical steps can you take to embody God's love and justice today?

Day 4: Fulfillment in Christ

Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of Zechariah's visions, embodying the perfect high priest and king. His life, death, and resurrection offer us a path to return to God and be clothed in righteousness. Zechariah's visions point to the roles of leadership and priesthood in guiding the people back to God, ultimately finding their fulfillment in Christ. As the perfect high priest and king, Jesus bridges the gap between God and humanity, offering us redemption and righteousness. In our spiritual journeys, we are invited to follow Christ's example and embrace the righteousness He offers, allowing His grace to transform our lives. [24:36]

Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV): "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Reflection: In what ways can you allow Christ's righteousness to transform your life today? How can you draw near to His throne of grace with confidence?

Day 5: Evaluating Our Past and Imagining God's Kingdom

As we navigate our spiritual journeys, we are called to evaluate our past, imagine the possibilities of God's kingdom, and hold fast to the promise of the Messiah. This involves reflecting on our past actions and choices, seeking God's forgiveness and guidance, and envisioning the future He has in store for us. By holding fast to the promise of the Messiah, we allow His grace to activate our love for God and neighbor, transforming our lives and communities. This call to action challenges us to live out our faith in tangible ways, embodying the love and hope of God's kingdom in our daily lives. [29:41]

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV): "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: What past actions or choices do you need to evaluate and seek God's forgiveness for? How can you actively imagine and work towards the possibilities of God's kingdom in your life today?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound message of returning to God, as illustrated in the book of Zechariah. The state of the church today, much like the people of Judah in Zechariah's time, is marked by confusion and a lack of unity. The call to return to God is not just about physical restoration but a spiritual renewal. Zechariah, one of the minor prophets, speaks to a people who have returned from exile to a homeland that feels foreign and desolate. They are challenged to remember their identity and the love they are called to embody.

Zechariah's message is timeless, urging us to return to God amidst our own bewilderment and disarray. The prophet's visions, though complex and symbolic, point to a deeper truth: God's promises are both contingent and unconditional. The contingent promises require our return and repentance, while the unconditional ones assure us of God's ultimate plan for redemption through Jesus Christ.

The dreams in Zechariah, filled with vivid imagery like red horses, flying scrolls, and olive trees, symbolize the spiritual realities and promises of God. They remind us that our return to God is not just about personal repentance but about embracing a vision of hope and restoration for the community. The central dreams focus on Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, highlighting the roles of leadership and priesthood in guiding the people back to God.

The ultimate fulfillment of these visions is found in Jesus Christ, who embodies the perfect high priest and king. His life, death, and resurrection are the culmination of God's promises, offering us a path to return to God and be clothed in righteousness. As we navigate our own spiritual journeys, we are called to evaluate our past, imagine the possibilities of God's kingdom, and hold fast to the promise of the Messiah.

Key Takeaways

1. The call to return to God is a call to spiritual renewal, not just physical restoration. It challenges us to remember our identity and the love we are called to embody, much like the people of Judah in Zechariah's time. [07:26]
2. Zechariah's visions, though complex, reveal the nature of God's promises—both contingent and unconditional. Our return and repentance are necessary for the fulfillment of some promises, while others assure us of God's ultimate plan for redemption. [10:10]
3. The dreams in Zechariah, filled with symbolic imagery, remind us that our return to God involves embracing a vision of hope and restoration for the community, not just personal repentance. [12:05]
4. Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of Zechariah's visions, embodying the perfect high priest and king. His life, death, and resurrection offer us a path to return to God and be clothed in righteousness. [24:36]
5. As we navigate our spiritual journeys, we are called to evaluate our past, imagine the possibilities of God's kingdom, and hold fast to the promise of the Messiah, allowing His grace to activate our love for God and neighbor. [29:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - The State of the Church
[02:35] - Zechariah's Context
[03:32] - Longing for God's Promises
[05:06] - Structure of Zechariah
[05:57] - The Call to Return
[07:26] - Repentance and Return
[10:10] - Contingent and Unconditional Promises
[12:05] - Dreams and Visions
[13:33] - The First and Eighth Dreams
[14:59] - Reasons for Exile
[16:35] - Rebuilding Jerusalem
[18:46] - Joshua and Zerubbabel
[19:39] - God's Rebuke of the Accuser
[24:36] - Fulfillment in Christ
[29:41] - Call to Action and Love

Sermon Clips

"It's the graceless engagement among my sisters and brothers, the malformed loves of those who call on the name of Christ, and it is my own heart and y 'all's heart, full of bewilderment of not being a united body filled with love for God and our neighbors." [00:00:30] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Yes, it is true that God orchestrated like the global powers to return them to the land, to return them to home, but it's a home they don't recognize. It's a ruined city that they don't know how to rebuild." [00:03:06] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"They cling to the most pressing issues, which is right and good. Can the promises of God be true amid this bewilderment?" [00:03:32] (9 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"God walks into our worlds in the cool of the day, into the gardens of our lives, and he says, where are you? Return to me. Yes, that's an allusion to Genesis, which is why I'm trying to say is this is always where it starts." [00:07:04] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And all of your folly and failure and rebellion, return to me. With all of your despair and discombobulation, return to me." [00:07:26] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Despite our folly and rebellion, we are welcome to him. Not because of Zechariah's vision, but because of our Lord Jesus Christ, his life, his death, and resurrection." [00:22:36] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"It is the good news of the gospel that if anyone can admit their sin, see themselves in excremental clothes, and return to the Lord who made them, their iniquities will be forgiven, will not be countered against them, and they will be made clean." [00:22:54] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Zechariah's visions, what he's telling us, the point of all of this is that Jesus is the fulfillment of this longing for return." [00:27:29] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"He's the one who controls us. He's the one who truly returned and has returned. And then in his steps and by his mercy, we return to the Lord, the one who laid his life down for his sheep, even the sheep that rejected him." [00:27:41] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Zechariah will call us to evaluate our past, imagine the possibilities, and hold fast to the promise of the Messiah." [00:29:31] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And our Lord Jesus, by his grace, will activate our hands, activate our hands and our hearts and our heads towards the love of God and neighbor." [00:29:41] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Would you reign over your church in a way that broke our hearts, and gave us hope, where we can return repentantly to you, where we would be overwhelmed by the dreams and visions in your scripture, the ways you orient us to the world, and that we would hold fast to the promise that you love us and our neighbors, that we could live accordingly." [00:30:32] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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