Love Truth and Peace

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Scripture:

Zech. 8:19 Thus says the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be seasons of joy and gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah: therefore love truth and peace.

Observation:

The people of God had been fasting the days in which they commemorated the fateful events in the life of Israel.  The "fast of the fourth month" was to remind Israel that Nebuchadnezzar had entered Jerusalem in 586 B.C.  The fast of the fifth month "commemorated the burning of the Temple and other buildings in 586. The seventh remembered Gedaliah’s assassination. The tenth recalled the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem in 588 (2 Kings 25:1)." (Ryrie)  When Israel is restored all of this will change.  Fasting will become feasting in a period of time when the people love truth and peace. 

Application:

When would truth come?  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."  (John 14:6)  When Jesus was on this earth his disciples didn't celebrate the seasons of fasting and they were sharply criticized for this by the religious leaders.  Jesus responded, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them." (Mark 2:19)  The reality was that when the people of God would grasp Jesus -- the Truth -- when they would truly fall in love with him, then they would experience the peace of God in their lives, both individually and collectively. 

Our own fasting is turned into joy when we embrace the truth of Jesus Christ.  There is so much that life can throw at us -- so much frustration and disappointment.  As long as we focus on those things, we remain in a period of fasting, or mourning.  We are looking at the past and the things that have happened and we live in those.  We bring them up on a regular basis and we allow them to rule over us.  Instead, if we fall in love with Truth -- if we fall in love with Jesus Christ, he will bring seasons of joy and gladness to our lives.  It doesn't mean that the circumstances will change, but it probably means that we will change.

Falling in love with Jesus changes everything.  The things of this world suddenly don't matter as they did in the past.  The bad things in life become shadows in light of the truth and peace that we find in him.  I want to love Jesus -- for he is Truth and Peace.  He allows me to see the truth in the situations of life and gives great peace as I fall deeply in love with him.  Nothing matters beside my love for my Savior. 

Prayer:

Lord, I love you and am grateful that you turn our fasting into feasting.  Amen.

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