Today: Zechariah 1-7
Religion is sometimes a controversial topic. One definition?
A collection of practices, based on beliefs and teachings that are highly valued or sacred;
Any practice that someone or some group is seriously devoted to;
Any ongoing practice one engages in, in order to shape their character or improve traits of
their personality...
In this definition, religion is something you practice--it's something you do. This is how many people all over the world define it: they see religion as traditions and rituals they complete.
In today's passage, God's people asked Him about one of their religious practices--routine fasting. Check out God's response:
"When you held days of fasting every fifth and seventh month
all these seventy years,
were you doing it for me?
And when you held feasts, was that for me?
Hardly.
You're interested in religion,
all these seventy years,
were you doing it for me?
And when you held feasts, was that for me?
Hardly.
You're interested in religion,
I'm interested in people.
"There's nothing new to say on the subject...
God-of-the-Angel-Armies said then and says now:
"'Treat one another justly.
Love your neighbors.
Be compassionate with each other.
Don't take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor.
Don't plot and scheme against one another—that's evil.'
God-of-the-Angel-Armies said then and says now:
"'Treat one another justly.
Love your neighbors.
Be compassionate with each other.
Don't take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor.
Don't plot and scheme against one another—that's evil.'
God's response is interesting because it's actually about practices, too--but it's MORE about hearts, motivations and of course, people. Religion is about things you do, but a real relationship with God is about loving Him, loving people and living with a transformed heart, mind and spirit.
Tomorrow: Zechariah 8-14
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