Thoughts for another day

October 14, 2008.

Today's verse: Zec. 7:5. Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In our verse today, I’ll like you to concentrate on the last part which God commands Zechariah the prophet to ask the priests and the people, ‘did ye at all fast unto me, really?’ We need to ask this question of ourselves too. Whatever good we do, do we do it for the glory of the Lord or for self-gratification?

If an intense personal introspection is made in this matter, we would be shocked with the revelation that comes from it. We will realise that although our motivation in the first instance would have been God, it later quietly slips to self. The devil steadily but surely defaces God’s interest from our hearts and puts in self before God. Jesus gives an example of this when He talks about the Pharisee in Lk. 18:9-14. It’s not that the Pharisee doesn’t conscientiously do all those things he puts forth before God as a credit to himself, but what is lacking is the fervor for God. This is where most of us err and the sad thing is that we feel we are still doing it for God! The deception of the evil one.

That God doesn’t need all these things from us is clearly mentioned by Him here but what He needs us to do is also elucidated in verses 9 & 10. Personally, I take this as a good message for me as I believe I need to weigh my actions in the mirror of God and discern whether my loyalty and deeds are for myself or for God. From thereon, I guess I need to take corrective action for only then will on that day the refrain from God be, ‘well done, faithful servant.’