Zechariah 1.1-6                              

The Sinful Forgiven

               Do we learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of others? Knowing sin has consequences, do we take notice and learn from our sin and from those who have chosen a sinful path? At times it is easy to judge, but not learn; to bemoan circumstances of others, but take no concern for ourselves; to watch the misery of sin’s losses, but take no corrective action for our ways. In encouraging those who had returned from captivity to learn from their past, to change their ways, and to be committed in doing the Lord’s work, Zechariah spoke. “The LORD was very angry with your fathers… Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says 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” (Zechariah 1.2-4).

               Their forefathers chose sin and ignored the Word of the Lord; they chose what they wanted and did not consider consequences; they became comfortable in sin and disregarded God’s commands. Then, in faithfulness to His Word, God judged; the people suffered, the temple was destroyed, and the people were taken into captivity. The consequences of sin were, and are, unavoidable. May we learn from the past and refuse to walk down sinful paths. When we have followed the course of evil and fallen into sin, may we remember that God delights in the prayer of the repentant: “Return to me and I will return to you.” None has to stay in the path of his sin or a past sinful cycle; none has to resign to sinfulness and defeat, to repeat a sinful cycle in hopelessness. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to deliver and cleanse us from all sin; He is One of grace, mercy, and love; One who delights in the repentance of His people; One who desires to restore us to fellowship with Himself; One who gives us true forgiveness and  hope.

Knowing the Lord’s forgiveness – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry