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Zechariah 4:6 - Man's Flicker or God's Flame?Zechariah 4:6 (NIV) Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.INTRODUCTION The key words are by my Spirit. It is only through God's Spirit that anything of lasting value is accomplished. The returned exiles were indeed weak - harassed by their enemies, tired, discouraged, and poor. But they had God on their side! As you live for God, determine not to trust in your own strength or abilities. Instead, depend on God and work in the power of his Spirit. [Life Application SB 2019] COMMENTARY PEARL I'm a performer at heart. I tend to memorize most of the material when I have to give a presentation or train a class. I don't like being caught off guard. I prefer to prepare and know my content well enough to adjust it or change course if needed without anyone else being the wiser. I can't help it. Since participating in church programs as a kid, I have memorized speeches and scripts with the intent of presenting a flawless performance. One Sunday morning, a friend's pastor encouraged me not to concern myself with perfection - to just let my words naturally flow and resonate with people. Little did I know that the agenda for an event my friend and I were hosting that afternoon would change to become a more formal presentation at the start. We quickly chose something to read, prayed for Jesus's spirit, and shared a few impromptu words. I would have preferred to practice beforehand, but a perfect performance didn't matter to our guests. At the end of the day, they shared how blessed they were by what they'd heard from us. I may want to prepare in order to perform everything perfectly, but Jesus doesn't ask me to. He simply asks that I do everything from the heart and for His glory (Colossians 3:23). There's no need for me to avoid mistakes or cover up inadequacies. Jesus's definition of perfect is complete, and I am made perfect in Him (Hebrews 10:14). Ericka Loynes Faith Step: This week, refrain from tying to get your words exactly right. Trust Jesus for the right words at the right time. [Mornings With Jesus 2025 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] COMMENTARY In the work of God, humanity can originate nothing. No man can by his own effort make himself a light bearer for God ... In the great and measureless gift of the Holy Spirit are contained all of heaven's resources. It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. If all were willing to receive, all would become filled with His Spirit. COL 418-19 The religion of Christ means more than the forgiveness of sin; it means taking away our sins, and filling the vacuum with the graces of the Holy Spirit. It means divine illumination, rejoicing in God. It means a heart emptied of self, and blessed with the abiding presence of Christ. When Christ reigns in the soul, there is purity, freedom from sin. The glory, the fullness, the completeness of the gospel plan is fulfilled in the life. The acceptance of the Saviour brings a glow of perfect peace, perfect love, perfect assurance. COL 419-20 As activity increases, and men become successful in doing any work for God, there is danger of trusting to human plans and methods. There is a tendency to pray less, and to have less faith. Like the disciples, we are in danger of losing sight of our dependence on God, and seeking to make a Saviour of our activity. We need to look constantly to Jesus, realizing that it is His power which does the work.... While we are to labor earnestly for the salvation of the lost, we must also take time for meditation, for prayer, and for the study of the word of God. Only the work accomplished with much prayer, and sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for good. DA 362 To follow Jesus requires wholehearted conversion at the start, and a repetition of this conversion every day (Letter 39, 1899). 1 BC 1113 LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Zechariah 4:6 - Man's Flicker or Gods Flame? https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250322-1302.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20241015-1228.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220104-1033.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2017/20170630-1642.html John 3:7 - You Must Be Born Again! https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230429-0911.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230128-0904.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200518-0946.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180715-1129.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |