Daily Devotional

This was the outcome of God dealing with His people.  He had called to them many times.  They would not hear.  After many decades He scattered them with a whirlwind.  They were sent away to live in a place and among a people they did not know.  They had possessed the pleasant land, but now no more.  The result?  The pleasant land was made desolate.

What is desolate?  A desolate place is one deserted of people, and in a state of bleak and dismal emptiness.  These were God’s people, the equivalent of the church filled with believers in our time.  What had they done?  The Lord had asked for holy, loving and righteous lives.

And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” (8-10)

What was their response?  They intentionally erected barriers so that they would not hear the law or God’s Spirit.

But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts. (11-12)

How did they block God’s incoming words?  Very effectively they put in place four assurances that their hearts would not be affected by Him, lest they hear and have to respond.

• They refused to pay attention
• They turned a stubborn shoulder
• They stopped their ears
• They made their hearts diamond-hard (or like flint)

There is a pleasant land provided for every believer.  Not just in heaven someday, but now!  However, it is easy for the pleasant land to become desolate, and remain so. I have seen believers refuse to have the pleasant land!

One couple in particular comes to mind.  When I described to the wife the way of ongoing peace that could be hers, she told me that she could not do what I suggested.  I told her that God would accomplish it through her, if she would only ask and believe. She would not have it!  She was effectively putting in place the blockades described above.  She lifted up her weakness and inability.

I also talked with her husband about some of his poor choices as a believer, some of his ways.  His response?  This is just how I am!  My response to that?  Just how you are is unacceptable to God!  But he would not have it!  He preferred his own ways.  He effectively put up a blockade.

And they both continued to let the pleasant land that was theirs become a desolate land.  And they complained of it!  But they still preferred the desolation of their own choices to God’s pleasant land, through lack of faith and stubborn willfulness.  And they blamed Him.

There is a “pleasant land” life for any believer in Jesus, for all our days on earth.  I am not speaking of the dreaded “prosperity doctrine,” but rather prosperity of soul.  This is our resting place in the Lord!  This is our base of ministry!  If we don’t even have prosperity in our own souls, how will we help others?

The Word says He makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, only the rebellious dwell in a parched land (Ps. 68:6 NASB).  The Lord invites His people to come to the waters, to eat and drink what satisfies; that we should delight ourselves in abundance (Is.55:1-2 NASB).  You are the Lord’s vineyard.  It is He who cares for your soul.  He is the keeper.  And He is good at what He does.  He waters it every moment!  He guards it night and day, so that no one will damage it! (Is.27:2-3 NASB).

As we head toward Thanksgiving, to the Christmas holidays and onto a New Year, make sure you live as a resident in God’s pleasant land.  O saints of the Most High God, no child of His has to live in desolation!  Only those who put blockades do so!  But ear has not heard, nor has eye seen a God besides ours who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him! (Is.64:4).  Open the doors!  Call on the name of Jesus!  Wait for Him.  Receive what He gives you!

The storms will swirl around you and Satan will do his worst in your life, family and ministry.  Perhaps griefs galore will come.  But the Lord will be in His resting place in your heart.  He will abundantly bless you, provide for you and satisfy you!  You will rejoice over your salvation and sing aloud for joy!  His lamp will burn brightly in your heart! (Psalm 132:13-18 NASB).
Have a great holiday season!  Rest in Him, and let your light shine!   

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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