All in Zechariah today!  Please read chapters 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. It’s simple when we are all in one place, but I still like to see the connections from book to book.  Have you learned something new or gained new insight from reading the Bible in chronological order?  Let’s visit once you have read these chapters for today:

Again in Zechariah 9:9 – rejoice because the King is coming! The Lord does not have to perform to be praised – praise Him in advance!

Restoration again, and a reminder that the Lord always returns with mercy:

“I will bring them back because I have mercy on them” (Zechariah 10:6-7)

Zechariah 11:4-17 reminds me of Ezekiel 34. Any hint of Jesus is encouraging – did y’all see that in Zechariah 12:10?

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn” (Zech. 12:10 KNJV)

Now we are done with Zechariah!

A few places to skip to today: Zechariah 6, Ezra 5:3-17, Ezra 6:1-14, and Zechariah 7 and 8.  Let’s visit – what stands out to you? Leave a comment – I’d love to hear from you!

“Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judea, to the temple of the great God, which is being built with heavy stones, and timber is being laid in the walls; and this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands” (Ezra 5:8 NKJV)

I like that: the work went on diligently and prospered in their hands.Diligence and hard work is valuable. While we are trusting the Lord to bless our efforts, let’s work hard so that He has something to bless! 

Several places to flip around today: Haggai 2:1-9, Zechariah 1:1-6, Haggai 2:10-19, Ezra 5:2, Haggai 2:20-23, Zechariah 2, 3, 4, and 5.  I switched to the NKJV for a few days just for a change – do you switch it up here and there? As much as I enjoy the Message translation, the NKJV has been my dear friend for many years.  I like returning to the familiar text as much as I like for a different translation to “keep me on my toes”!  I’m rambling – let’s visit about the reading today!

Haggai 2:4 says “be strong” (three times) with the encouragement “for I am with you”. This is a powerful and much needed reminder that our circumstances do not change God’s promises – we are chosen. He is always the same.

“Therefore thus says the Lord:

How lovely. How precious. Depending on our need, how powerful. Doesn’t He always return with mercy?

“Sing and rejoice… for I am coming” (Zechariah 2:10 NKJV)

Rejoice just because He is coming – He hadn’t even acted yet, He was just coming! That’s joy and faith in action!

We are going to read Daniel chapters 10, 11, and 12; Ezra 4:24, 5:1, and Haggai 1 today.  Just a quick highlight today, a little treasure that we might overlook:

“Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day…. your words were heard; and I have come because of your words” (Dan. 10:12 NKJV)

Amen 🙂

Our words are powerful – God will come when we set our hearts toward Him and pray!

A couple of different places today – let’s read Daniel 6, Daniel 9, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1, and 1 Chronicles 3:17-19. Are you reading your own favorite Bible, the YouVersion, or a Chronological One Year Bible?  To be honest, I switch around – but look at us!  Making it all the way to 251!  Here we go:

Daniel in the lions den…. oh the trust! I thought it was important to note: Darius trusted God at first because Daniel trusted God at all times.

“King Darius published this proclamation to every race, color, and creed on earth:

Our example of faith might lead someone to faith. Darius’ decree reflected what he witnessed in Daniel. 

“I turned to the Master God, asking for an answer—praying earnestly, fasting from meals, wearing rough penitential burlap, and kneeling in the ashes. I poured out my heart, baring my soul to God, my God” (Daniel 9:4 MSG)

“Turn your ears our way, God, and listen. Open your eyes and take a long look at our ruined city, this city named after you. We know that we don’t deserve a hearing from you. Our appeal is to your compassion. This prayer is our last and only hope” (Daniel 9:18 MSG)

We do not ask because we are anything, we ask because God is everything.  Fasting is also such a powerful and important discipline, not to be overlooked in our Christian walk.

Finally the end of the captivity in Ezra 1! Back in Isaiah 45, it was prophesied that Cyrus would end the captivity and here it comes to pass. God is always true!

All in Daniel today!  That’s simple.  Let’s read Daniel chapters 7, 8, and 5 together.  Here’s what stands out to me in reading today:  

“But as for me, Daniel, I was disturbed. All these dream-visions had me agitated. So I went up to one of those standing by and asked him the meaning of all this. And he told me” (Daniel 7:15 MSG)

“I, Daniel, walked around in a daze, unwell for days. Then I got a grip on myself and went back to work taking care of the king’s affairs. But I continued to be upset by the vision. I couldn’t make sense of it” (Daniel 8:27 MSG)

It’s interesting to me that some of these visions were immediately interpreted for Daniel, and others were for the “far future” and Daniel received them but didn’t fully understand. God doesn’t have to tell us everything at once – He gives us what we need when we need it (and there’s the gap again – between knowing and unknowing).

“Daniel answered the king, ‘You can keep your gifts, or give them to someone else. But I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means’ ” (Daniel 5:17 MSG)

In chapter 5: how terrifying, the hand on the wall! I try to imagine seeing it myself, what would I feel? I like Daniel’s response – he didn’t want the gifts, but he would share the truth. Motivation is important – and Daniel was motivated by faithfulness to God.

Got some more prophets today! Please read Ezekiel 47, 48, 29:17-21, 30:1-19.  Then, 2 Kings 25:27-30, and Jeremiah 52:31-34.  249 days in – wow!  Here we go:

I love Ezekiel 47:1-12, too much to put all of it here – you just read it too!

“But the river itself, on both banks, will grow fruit trees of all kinds. Their leaves won’t wither, the fruit won’t fail. Every month they’ll bear fresh fruit because the river from the Sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:12 MSG)

Wherever the water flows, there is life.  I love the idea, the reality: the river flows from the Sanctuary to them.  To us, bringing everything we need.  Praise God!

Ezekiel must have been glad to share this message:

“And then I’ll stir up fresh hope in Israel—the dawn of deliverance!—and I’ll give you, Ezekiel, bold and confident words to speak. And they’ll realize that I am GOD.’ ” (Ezekiel 29:21 MSG)

“Stir up fresh hope” – I love that!  Everything from the Lord is always new and always exactly what we need. The purpose was always to reveal Himself to His children: “they’ll realize that I am God”. 

Of course, the lesson didn’t come easily in Ezekiel 30.

Three chapters today – you got this!  We are reading Ezekiel 44, 45, and 46.  What are you learning today?  What can you apply to your life?  Here’s what I am thinking about:  

The Message translation makes me laugh sometimes, but I’m quick to re-read and get to the truth. Here’s one: in response to seeing God’s glory, Ezekiel falls down to worship, and:

“GOD said to me, “Son of man, get a grip on yourself. Use your eyes, use your ears, pay careful attention to everything I tell you” (Ezekiel 44:5 MSG)

“Get a grip”, lol! 🙂 But honestly – sometimes we get our focus on the wrong thing. This was a time of instruction, and Ezekiel needed to be paying attention. Discernment is so important.  

“Quit bullying and taking advantage of my people. Do what’s just and right for a change. Use honest scales—honest weights and honest measures” (Ezekiel 45:10 MSG)

“Everyone in the land must contribute” (Ezekiel 45:16)

Ezekiel 45:9-12 is the familiar passage about honest weights and measures, and 45:16 tells us that everyone must contribute – amen. Lord, I’m depending on Your strength to help me do my part in Your kingdom.

46:9-10 is a highlight for me:

“But when the people of the land come to worship God at the commanded feasts, those who enter through the north gate will exit from the south gate, and those who enter though the south gate will exit from the north gate. You don’t exit the gate through which you enter, but through the opposite gate” (Ezekiel 46:9-10 MSG)

He again makes the point that we are to leave differently than we came in. I know this was a physical change of direction, but physical obedience yields spiritual results.  Let’s purpose to be changed spiritually every time we come in the presence of the Lord!

We’re staying in Ezekiel today!  Please read Ezekiel 40:38-49, and Ezekiel 41, 42, 43.  Come on back – what stands out to you today?

“The walls separated the holy from the ordinary” (Ezekiel 42:20 MSG)

It’s important that we are able to discern between the holy and the ordinary as well. Differentiate between these things in your life, and treat the holy with great respect and care. God is taking such care – rebuilding the temple is about (guess what?) restoration and bringing His people back into right relationship with Him, always His heart towards His children.

I’m not really crazy about the phrase “the God of the Old Testament”, as if God ever changed.  He always lovedHis children, and he loves us even still!