Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Making impossible possible
“’Shout
and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,’
declares the Lord”.
Zechariah
2 discusses a vision of a man with a measuring line, who claims that he will measure
how long and wide Jerusalem is. Later on in chapter, we realized that the
Jerusalem being described is not the earthly one, but the unlimited and
glorious one in heaven. Even the notion of measuring the physical Jerusalem is
impossible, simply because of its vastness, which is why Zechariah was baffled.
The angel goes on to say “flee from the land of the north,” implying Babylon,
and warns the Israelites to save themselves from this crooked generation. The
angel talks of God shaking his hand over Babylon, so that those who were
cruelly subjected to their power would be able to rise up and overthrow them.
In
verse 10, where the passage begins, the angel insinuates that the Holy Spirit
will come and live in the Church, among the people. We can see evidence of this
prophecy in today’s world just by observing how accessible the gift of
redemption is for all people. In verse 11, the angel hints at what life will be
like at the time of the coming Messiah. Finally, in verses 12 and 13, it
states, “And Jehovah shall inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and
shall yet choose Jerusalem. Be silent, all flesh, before Jehovah; for he is
waked up out of his holy habitation.” This is the only part of the Scripture
where Palestine is called the holy land, but it is not for the reason that many
believe: that the children of God were promised that land eons ago, and are
entitled today. For Christians, Jerusalem holds power because it is the place
of Christ’s suffering and the birthplace of our very salvation. Palestine, in
the literal sense, is worth no more than any other land. However, for us, it is
the very origin of our redemption and our hope for eternal life.
Personally,
the passage reflects the theme, “making the impossible possible.” It starts off
by discussing a group of people overthrowing their oppressors. Today, we are
oppressed by the sin in our own hearts and souls and the evil and hatred in
today’s world. The disciples were able to move hearts with nothing except faith
and passion. We should be able to evoke the same Christian hope and love within
our communities today. If our ancestors could overcome what seems impossible
even now, then we can do the same today.
Prayer: Dear God thank you for
showing us that there is nothing impossible in your strength and power. Keep us
in that grace amen.
Thought
for the day:
God’s power is enough to transform our impossibilities
Alyssa Thomas, Epiphany M T C, NY