Posted on by Jim Perkins, SHRM-CP, SPHR

Zechariah 7:13

“Just as He had called, and they would not listen, so when they called, I would not listen,” says the Lord of Hosts.”

Zechariah 7:13 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/zec.7.13.hcsb

The Lord is really not a lot different from us in this way. If we ask someone to do something and they don’t, we are not inclined to do something for them when they ask us. But all too often we want the Lord to do things for us, to give us nice things and cure us, etc, but we don’t want to follow after Him or His commands. We want to be greedy and only think of ourselves. How can we not be surprised when He doesn’t answer us in a favorable way?

Posted on by Jim Perkins, SHRM-CP, SPHR

Zechariah 6:15

“People who are far off will come and build the Lord’s temple, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent Me to you. This will happen when you fully obey the Lord your God.””

Zechariah 6:15 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/zec.6.15.hcsb

What strikes me here is that the Lord’s Temple being rebuilt, which is in my mind symbolic of Christ’s spirit living within us, will only happen when we fully obey the Lord. Fully obeying the Lord, in my eyes at least, would start with following Christ.

Posted on by Jim Perkins, SHRM-CP, SPHR

Zechariah 5:1-4

“I looked up again and saw a flying scroll. “What do you see? ” he asked me. “I see a flying scroll,” I replied, “30 feet long and 15 feet wide.” Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the whole land, for every thief will be removed according to what is written on one side, and everyone who swears falsely will be removed according to what is written on the other side. I will send it out,” — this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts — “and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name. It will stay inside his house and destroy it along with its timbers and stones.””

Zechariah 5:1-4 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/zec.5.1-4.hcsb

I read this and think that theft and lying are two sides of the same coin, or scroll… what I believe the Lord is telling me is that either of these sins will come in and wreak havoc on us, right down to our foundations. Ill gotten gain, either through theft or bearing a false witness only results in ruin.

Posted on by Jim Perkins, SHRM-CP, SPHR

Zechariah 3:8-9

““Listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your colleagues sitting before you; indeed, these men are a sign that I am about to bring My servant, the Branch. Notice the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. I will engrave an inscription on it” — this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts — “and I will take away the guilt of this land in a single day.”

Zechariah 3:8-9 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/zec.3.8-9.hcsb

I am reading this on Easter Sunday, and how fitting that on this most holy day I would read how the Lord foretells taking away the guilt of the land, alas all the world, on a single day with His Branch, which is Jesus.

*Note: I may have said before, these posts are straight from my personal bible reading journal, but are not posted on the same day that they are originally written (as evidenced here). The reason for this is entirely selfish – by reposting, I am forced to re-read what I read some time ago. Often times the Lord blesses me with some slight wisdom or insight that I can apply.

Posted on by Jim Perkins, SHRM-CP, SPHR

Zechariah 2:11-13

““Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day and become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent Me to you. The Lord will take possession of Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and He will once again choose Jerusalem. Let all people be silent before the Lord, for He is coming from His holy dwelling.””

Zechariah 2:11-13 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/zec.2.11-13.hcsb

This is a blunt, in your face Old Testament prophecy of Jesus’ coming and how we are all called to be the Lords people, just like the Israelites.

Posted on by Jim Perkins, SHRM-CP, SPHR

Zechariah 1:3

“So tell the people: This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Return to Me” — this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts — “and I will return to you, says the Lord of Hosts.”

Zechariah 1:3 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/zec.1.3.hcsb

This seems pretty obvious: seek the Lord and He will seek you. It is the same as when Jesus said: “seek first the Kingdom of Heaven…” We want to be blessed by the Lord; we want to feel His presence, but it isn’t a one-way street. Just like me, the Lord doesn’t want to be “used.”

Posted on by Jim Perkins, SHRM-CP, SPHR

2 Thessalonians 3:3

“But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and guard you from the evil one.”

2 Thessalonians 3:3 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/2th.3.3.hcsb

Just a subtle reminder from Paul: I’m not alone!! My enemy is definitely there, and he wants me to think I’m alone, but I’m NOT. The Lord of Hosts, Creator of all things is faithful and will not only strengthen me, but guard me from the enemy of the Light!

Posted on by Jim Perkins, SHRM-CP, SPHR

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

“The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved. For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, so that all will be condemned — those who did not believe the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness.”

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/2th.2.9-12.hcsb

This is a lot to absorb. There is a lot to absorb overall in this chapter, which is putting to rest fears of the second coming. What stood out to me among these verses, though is the last part of the 12th verse: those who did not believe the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness. This stands out because it is true. People enjoy sin! Plain and simple. They enjoy chasing after their worldly desires. I think this is why following Jesus is so hard. The world doesn’t want us to be moral. The world wants to tell us to do whatever feels right and good. God will make the load lighter, but we still have to give the load to Him.

Posted on by Jim Perkins, SHRM-CP, SPHR

2 Thessalonians 1:8

“taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

2 Thessalonians 1:8 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/2th.1.8.hcsb

So I see two things here. First, judgment is reserved for those who don’t know God, and second, it is also reserved for those who don’t obey the gospel of Jesus. I think the order is interesting as well. Know God comes first, then obey the gospel. To obey Jesus’ commands, you first have to know God. But at the same time you still have to follow Jesus’ commands.