Are you doing everything possible to "diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God" (Zech. 6:15)? 'Wickedness' had to be removed, theft and lying had to be cleansed for the Glory of the Lord to return to Jerusalem. The 'exile' had ended, but things were just not right.

When tough times come... when the 'poop hits the fan',.. where do you find strength and encouragement? How about Zechariah 4:6 - "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord." Maybe it is time to "Let go... and Let God!"

What if you truly believe that God is asking you to do that which is unreasonable according to common sense and the 'wisdom of the world'? What if the way we have always done things is not producing the results that are needed? Possibly it is time to 'think outside the box'... to believe that God can protect you even if you are in a city without walls.

Sometimes we wonder where God is when we are in so much pain. We feel abandoned. Yet, He is a God who loves, a God who brings deliverance and restoration if we will but repent. Why? Because He is a God who loves and is faithful to His covenant promises.

How open are you to hearing the 'word of the Lord' regarding the mistakes you make on a day-to-day basis? How often do we fail to learn from our past mistakes? The call of Zechariah is to repent... "Return to9 me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts."

Are you aware of those around you in need? Are you ready, should your final day be today? What evidence do you need that Jesus is the only way to be saved? Choose life!

The story is really about a father who had two sons... and both of them were lost! The younger was lost in a far country because of his passions. The older brother was lost right on the farm... at home... because of his attitudes. Instead of forgiving and welcoming back, his concern was "What about me?" Which son are you REALLY more like?

What if we really believed God's love? The parables of Luke 15 portray a Father who is diligent in His search for a lost sheep, a lost coin, and His lost sons. Are you more like the Pharisees who had a very distinct 'us' and 'them'? Or, are you willing to do the will of the Father and search for the lost?

Not only are we to be humble, our Lord teaches us to do what we can to lift up those who have been humbled and humiliated. What does it mean to you when Jesus says that we need to 'count the cost'? Being a Christian IS NOT easy! It requires commitment, the establishing of priorities, and WILL result in persecution.

Are you showing signs that you should be bearing fruit (claiming to be a Christian) but you are producing no fruit? True freedom and the power to do great things can have small and relatively simple beginnings. Are you ready to enter through the narrow gate?