day 91: Rescue Plans, part 3 - Rebuild!

God needed to help the people of Israel as their land was without jobs or wages for people or animals. He gave them a rescue plan by putting the people back to work to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. It was a terrible time in the land. Beyond no jobs safety was compromised and no traveler was safe and there were enemies at each corner of the land. I picture the worst of the worst and what might have made our recessions and depressions look tame. God got the people working and had them pour their energy, spirit and resources into the rebuilding of the Temple. The message in Zechariah, Chapter 8 is clear; God is about rebuilding and we are to be a part of His plans. There is another message that I take from these passages in that when the going gets tough He puts His Temple in front of us to rebuild. In today's times that are as tough as any of have seen, when we worry about the security of the job we have or finding another position to replace the one we just lost, we have to find a point of focus and faith. He gives us that in verse 13 when we are told, "So don't be discouraged, but instead get on with rebuilding the Temple". Today, for us, the rebuilding is the relationship we can have with Him. He tells us that our bodies are the temple and we need to ensure that the relationship with God within them is strong, stable and secure. So much of our lives are filled with turmoil and challenges that come at us from all angles, work included. What God is telling us is that we don't have to be discouraged or worried about any of these if we are about the work of rebuilding His temple within our lives. God loves to see us do well and to do the work He has given us with all the might and energy that we can muster. Today as we face the continuing bad news, the curve ball that we weren't expecting, or the decision made by someone else that affects us but we can't do anything about, then let's call on His words and let's not be discouraged but instead take heart in knowing that we are being rebuilt anew!

Reference: Zechariah 8: 9-13 (New Living Testament)

day 89: Rescue Plans, part 1 - People to Work

We are now getting used to hearing about government rescue plans and bailouts and work programs that will create jobs. In many work places those ideas are part of the planning for the future of the company as they relate to economic growth and consumer confidence. In America we still hear and read about "The Works Progress Administration" and can see buildings, roads,schools, monuments and dams that were created during that period. We work today with our eye on both the public and private sector and watch as they sometimes blend together. I was fascinated by my reading of the book of Zechariah and what happened at a time of complete economic meltdown in those days. In the eighth chapter we learn of a time when "there were no jobs and no wages for either people or animals". (FYI, these troubled economics periods we see in our modern age are nothing new). But, what was most intriguing to me was that during those times the "stimulus package" was to put people back to work by rebuilding the temple. The people of Israel are told in Chapter 8 verse 13: "Now I will rescue you and and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing! So don't be afraid or discouraged, but instead get on with rebuilding the Temple!" Even way back then, God had a plan for how to put in a comprehensive rescue plan by putting people to work on his Temple. We are faced with today the challenges of what to do when it seems that the world and our situations are crumbling around us. There are many messages in Zechariah that we can take forward, but one that sticks with me is that in the troubling times we are not to lean back and become complacent or retiring. We are to lean forward and get to work. We are to work our way out of situations and crisis, not depend on others to do so for us. God said to the Israelites, "don't get discouraged", just get on with getting the job done. Get on with getting to work. Each of us have our own challenges and issues to work through during these difficult times and we should take heart that God tells us that this is not the first time and that like He did before He will put in front of us work to be done. We just need to pick ourselves up and get on with it. It may be today in your job when you need that extra bit of motivation to complete the task. Today, listen to what we are told and just get on with it.

Reference: Zechariah 8:9-13 (New Living Testament)