Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Zechariah 4:6, “So he answered and said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts.'”

Background

We have seen so much damage and destruction from storms that can blow in during the six months that the weather people call hurricane season. Over the years, neighborhoods, cities, and entire islands have been laid to waste beneath the wind and water that continue to demolish the buildings and construction we erect to try and withstand the forces of God’s nature. And once the storms blow through, all that’s left to do is dig out from under the rubble and rebuild, or just pack up and move away. And as those resilient ones attempt to rebuild, replacing what once stood with a newer, and hopefully stronger, version of what they had, it becomes apparent that there is another part of the process of rebuilding, and that is the sense of restoring. Even as the houses and shops rise again, the essence of what makes those structures into a community is the restoring of the spirit of the people. And as some locales have realized, merely replacing the buildings that were destroyed doesn’t guarantee the return of the spirit of the people. No amount of might or power or upgrades or consumerism can coerce the sense of brotherhood to return on demand.

Application

And the same is true in our lives. When a storm has hit you and wreaked havoc in your life and the relationships closest to you, there is no might or force that you can muster that can repair what has been damaged. When trust has been broken and doubt now reigns, strength and power will not be the answer. Only the Spirit of God can supply what is needed. Only a dependence and utter reliance on the King of Heaven and Earth can bring healing and restoration to your broken spirit. It doesn’t come through building a wall or repairing a levee, but by admitting it’s out of your hands and asking Him to restore by His Spirit. And in that hopelessness, Christ finds room to build His kingdom.

Charge

As we seek Him today, stop the work of rebuilding what only God can restore, what only He can accomplish, and trust that He is willing and able. 

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words