Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

Zechariah 2:6-13

Up, up! Flee from the land of the north, says the Lord; for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven, says the Lord. Up! Escape to Zion, you that live with daughter Babylon. For thus said the Lord of hosts (after his glory sent me) regarding the nations that plundered you: Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye. See now, I am going to raise my hand against them, and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.
Be silent, all people, before the Lord; for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

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Reflect

I am very fond of this particular passage as it is the text that we used when naming the church that I was a part of when we left the Presbyterian Church, USA and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The thought of God of being in our midst was very comforting. That little Fellowship (Zion Cumberland Presbyterian, Paducah, Kentucky) was developed from the remnant of a long-standing church into a very strong and growing group of worshipers. It grew so much that the Covenant Presbytery took notice of us and decided to accept the proposal from the struggling church across town to merge us into what is now called Grace Covenant CPC.

While Zion CPC does not exist any longer, the roots of that church are in the current church. The continued hope that “Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst… (verse 11) will stay alive as we bring more people into God’s kingdom. While this merger did not go according to the earthly plan, we are still growing and ministering to God’s flock in His midst in spite of the influences of the evil one. Where is your Zion?

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Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you that we can be in your midst wherever that may be, in our car, home, church, or in Zion, in Jesus’s name, Amen.

Go with God!