Monday, September 28, 2015

Building Our Lives Upon Christ

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Monday, September 28, 2015
Chapters: Zechariah 8-14 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-271.html
Message Title: Building Our Lives Upon Christ

Hello My Friend,

Did you ever see a house being built? First the foundation is laid, then the frame is built, then the bricks or wood is put in place for the exterior of the building, and so forth until piece by piece the house is complete. The Christian life is built in this same manner, no other foundation can be laid upon it than Jesus Christ. Without Him we might as well be walking in quicksand because we are not going to get very far. “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 3:10,11.

But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon, God gives us many choices on how we want to build our lives after we get saved. Yes, He wants us to build it upon Him, but lets us choose which pieces we use to construct it. When the Jews came back to Jerusalem they were instructed to rebuild the temple first. However, through a combination of fear and lack of motivation after the foundation was laid the work ceased. Through Zephaniah, God stressed how important it was to get back to rebuilding the temple, more importantly was His promise to restore Jerusalem and all of Israel.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.” - Zechariah 8:6-8,20-22.

And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. When Christ returns after the tribulation and reigns in Jerusalem, it will be the center of the earth’s worship, the Jews will be missionaries to all nations, and bearing the Good News of Christ. Now, this will not be His permanent Kingdom, that will be after the earth is destroyed. “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” - Revelation 20:4-6.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection, these are those who died and were saved in the flesh before He returned. There will be another resurrection after the thousand years and this will be when He judges the unsaved. As we build upon the foundation of Christ, we are to be witnesses and discerner's of the Good News to a lost world. There are so many liars out there that are sending people straight to hell, only when we build upon Him can we be the examples God needs us to be and show them Christ. Through Zechariah, God addresses the false shepherds, He also gives hope to

Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them. And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.” - Zechariah 10:1-3,6,12.



Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain, everything that we go through helps us build a solid structure upon the foundation of Christ. When we are in the midst of a storm, that is when we ought to be asking for strength to handle the next storm. God has a hand in all the events concerning Israel, they will finally have His favor and presence, being accepted of Him. They shall be brought together, purified and strengthened in the Lord. Through Zechariah, God reveals the coming of Christ, their rejecting Him, and the judgment they will face before they acknowledge Him as the Saviour.

Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter; Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not. For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them. And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD. Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.” - Zechariah 11:4-7,10,11,14.

Feed the flock of the slaughter, these are the Jews in general, who Christ was sent as a prophet to teach and instruct them by the ministry of His Word. Beauty, represents the privileges of the Jewish nation, in their national covenant. Bands, represents the harmony which united them as the flock of God. However, they chose to cleave to false teachers, which followed the breaking of the covenant between God and them. Through Zechariah, God reveals the time that Israel will finally recognize Christ as their King, and the one they crucified.

In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.” - Zechariah 12:8-11.

They shall look upon me whom they have pierced. Jerusalem, following the awful days of the end times shall be repopulated and replenished, but it will not be until Christ returning in all His glory that He will be recognized by Israel as the one they have pierced. Building our lives upon Christ may not bring us the most extravagant house here on earth, but it will be a solid structure, one that not even the devil can destroy. “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” - 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.

Today's Prayer: God, Help us not to resent the trials and afflictions of life or be fearful of their effects. Much like we prepare for a raging storm by anchoring valuables to a firm foundation, help us to anchor our hearts in the firm foundation of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Only He can help us withstand the tribulation and trials of life that are certain to come our way. Even as a ship is proven to be seaworthy over its lifetime, may our faith be proven trustworthy as we hold onto You, the Anchor for our soul. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Subscribe To Our Devotions: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Do You Know For Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://godsprice.com/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.