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TRANSCRIPT
TheRoadtoEmmaus
AdailydevotionalfortheForestdaleCommunityChurch
May22–26,2017
ThisweekinStillness&SilenceThefocusofthisweek’sdevotionalisthecelebrationofJesusasourhighpriestandking.Inyourtimesofstillnessthisweek,bowbeforeJesusandplaceyourselfunderHispriestlysacrificeofatonementforsin,andsubmityourselftohiskinglyLordshipoveryourlife.Soasyoubeginthedevotionalseachdaythisweek:
• Sitdownandtakeafewdeepbreathstosettleintosilence.• Usethesimpleprayer,“Lord,havemercy,”tofocusyourmind
andheartuponHissacrificialmercyandLordship.• CloseyoureyesandofferthisprayertoJesus,allowingHiswill
andlovefullaccessinyourlife.• BowbeforeHim.WaituponHim.HonorHim.
Afterafewminutes,youarereadytobeginthedevotional.
Monday: MakingtheConnection
BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)
Scripture:Zechariah6:11Takethesilverandgoldandmakeacrown,andsetitonthe
headofthehighpriest,JoshuasonofJehozadak.Devotional InthetimeoftheprophetZechariah,theIsraelitesarereturningfromexileinBabylon.Theyarecomingback‘indribsanddrabs’overthecourseofmanyyears.ButtheirtoppriorityistorebuildtheTempleinJerusalemasthefirststeptore-establishingtheirnation.AndinthispassageweseethreereturningIsraelitesbringingthanksgivingofferingsofsilverandgoldtotheTreasurerofthe“TempleBuildingProject,”tosupportthiswork. However,Goddoesasurprisingthing!HetellsZechariahtotakethesilverandgold,whichwasintendedforrebuildingtheTemple,andmakeacrownoutofit.Thentakethecrownandplaceitontheheadofthehighpriest,JoshuasonofJehozadak.Thiswasanextraordinaryactiontotake!SincethetimeofMosesandAaron,therehadbeenaclearseparationofpowersinIsraelbetweenthepriestsofthelineofLevi,andthekings(whowouldultimatelybeofthelineofJudah).ButhereGodhasZechariahplaceakinglycrownontheheadofahighpriest,andthepriest’snameisJoshua. ThoughthisJoshuasonofJehozadakwasarealpersoninZechariah’sday,heisalsoan“archetype”ofthecomingChrist,whosenamewouldbeJoshua(JesusinGreek),andwhowouldtrulycombinetheofficesofpriestandkinginhisoneperson
Question:WecallJesus“Savior”and“Lord.”Howdothosetwotitlesreflecttheofficesof“priest”and“King?”
BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)
Prayer:LordJesus,thankYouforYourpriestlyandsacrificialworkofatonementfortheforgivenessofmysins.TakeupalsoYourrightfulplaceasLordandKingofmylife.IbowbeforeYou.Amen.
Tuesday:Prayer
BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)
Scripture:Zechariah6:11-12Takethesilverandgoldandmakeacrown,andsetitonthe
headofthehighpriest,JoshuasonofJehozadak.TellhimthisiswhattheLORDAlmightysays:‘HereisthemanwhosenameistheBranch,andhewillbranchoutfromhisplaceandbuildthetempleoftheLord.’
Devotional Weseehereinverse12,thatthoughGodiscallingZechariahtoplaceakinglycrownontheheadofarealhighpriest,JoshuathesonofJehozadak,thisisclearlyasymbolicactthatpointsforwardtothecomingChrist.ThedecisiveclueisthatGodcallsZechariahtonametheman“TheBranch”ashecrownshim. TheBranchisatitlefortheMessiahthatisfoundinmanyplacesintheprophets: Isaiah11:1“AshootwillcomeupfromthestumpofJesse,
fromhisrootsaBranchwillbearfruit….” Jeremiah33:15“InthosedaysandatthattimeIwillmakea
righteousBranchsproutfromDavid’sline;hewilldowhatisjustandrightintheland….”
JoshuasonofJehozadakcouldnotbethat“Branch”himself,becausehewasnotofthelineofDavid.Andthough,asthehighpriestofIsraelatthetime,hewasworkingatrebuildingGod’stemple,itwouldultimatelybethefutureYeshua(Jesus)whowouldboth“buildGod’sTemple”(theChurch)andsitandruleonGod’sthroneinmajesty.ItisJesuswhoistheBranchfromthelineofDavid.Heisthetruepriestandking,whohas“branchedout”andextendedtherealmofGod’sKingdomaroundtheworld.
Question:WhatprayerwouldyouoffertoJesusasyour“highpriest”today?WhatprayerwouldyouoffertoJesusasyour“king”today?
BeStillBeforetheLord(2minutes)
Prayer:GoaheadandprayyourprayerstoyourPriestandKing.
Wednesday:Rest
BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)
Scripture:Zechariah9:9-10Rejoicegreatly,DaughterZion!Shout,DaughterJerusalem!See,yourkingcomestoyou,righteousandvictorious,lowlyandridingonadonkey,onacolt,thefoalofadonkey.…Hewillproclaimpeacetothenations.Hisrulewillextendfromseatosea,andfromtheRivertotheendsoftheearth.
Devotional IamsurprisedathowwellZechariahdescribesJesushere.Hesays“yourKing”isarighteousandvictoriousKing,andalsocharacterizesHimaslowly/humble.(IthoughtonlyIsaiahwasthisexplicitaboutthecomingMessiah!)HereweseehowJesus’rulewillextendtotheendsoftheearth.HewillbetheLordofthosewhoarelocal,theJews,andthosewholive“totheendsoftheearth”(us!).TheGentilesjoininrebuildingthetemplenotwithstonesorphysicalmaterial,butwiththeirfaithinGodandthefruitoftheHolySpirit.
Hegivesusthefruitoflove,joy,peace,patience,kindness,goodness,faithfulness,gentleness,andself-controltoreshapeourheartsandmindssothatitisnolongerwewholivebutChristinus.AbidinginJesus,webecomeawareoftheneedsandconcernsofothersandtreatallpeoplewithvalueanddignity.God,byHisSpiritisbehindthis.Hefitseachofusintotheblueprintofthebuilding.WearebeingbuiltintoaspiritualhouseandbecomethelivingTempleofGod!
Question:DoyouknowyouarealivingstoneinGod’stemple?Howcanknowingthistransformthewayyouloveothers?
BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)
Prayer:DearLord,helpmetobestillbeforeyou.LeadmetoagreatervisionofWhoYouare,andinsodoing,helpmeseemyselfandhowIfitintoYourpurposeformylife.ThankyouforcountingmeworthytobepartoftheSpiritualTemple.PraiseistotheLordJesus,theFoundation,thePreciousCornerstoneuponwhichYoubuildYourchurch.Amen.
Thursday:RelationshipBeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Scripture:Zechariah6:15
ThosewhoarefarawaywillcomeandhelptobuildthetempleoftheLord,andyouwillknowthattheLordAlmightyhassentmetoyou.ThiswillhappenifyoudiligentlyobeytheLordyourGod.
Devotional:
God’ssovereignty.That’swhattheBiblebeginswith,andthatiswherethestorywillend.ThispassageinZechariahhighlightsthatGod’speoplearegrantedaroleinhisplan,butHeisultimatelyincharge.SometimesashumanswecanforgetwhatourroleisinourrelationshipwiththeLord.Heisourfriend;Heisourcomforter;Heismany,manythingstoallofus.SometimesIlosesightofGodassovereign.Iamcomfortablearoundhim.MyrelationshipwithhisSonhasgrantedmethatprivilege.ButIappreciatepassagesthatremindmethatGodcallsustodiligentlyobey.Thisrequiresafocusandacommitment.AnotgettingsocomfortableandfamiliarintherelationshipthatweforgetourroleinbuildingthebodyofChristalongwithheedingourcalltodiligentlyobeyallthethingshecallsusto.Question:AreyouabletokeepGod’sSovereigntyinfocusinyourrelationshipwithHim? BeStillBeforetheLord(2minutes)Prayer: Lord,asPriestandKing,youareMakerandRuleroverall.Withoutyou,wewouldn’thavetheopportunityofsalvationandtheassuranceofYourKingshipoveryourkingdom.Thankyouforthosetimesthatyouallowustoplayaroleinyourplan.Helpustodiligentlyobeyyouandtokeepyoursovereigntyfirstandforemostinourheartsandminds.Amen.
Friday: WorkBeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Scripture:Zechariah14:9
“TheLORDwillbekingoverthewholeearth.OnthatdaytherewillbeoneLORD,andhisnametheonlyname.”
Devotional:
Zechariahlivedinadifficultera.ThenationofIsraelwassplitanditspeoplewerelivinginaperiodofstruggleandtension.GodusedZechariahtoshowthemthataDeliverwouldcometosavethem.Theywouldnolongerhavetoliveundertyrannicalrulerswhohadonlytheirownbestinterestsinmind;butGodpromisedthattherewillcomeadaywhentheLordwillreign.Hewillruleoverthewholeearth.Wewon’thavetoworryaboutfairness,honesty,andinsensitivity.JesusisreturningtoearthinordertoreplacetheinjusticeoftheworldforpeoplewhobelieveinHim.ZechariahispleadingwiththeIsraelitestoreturntoGodbecauseGodhasgreatthingsinstoreforthemandus.Wedon’thavetoworkourwaytoGod.WeneedtoacceptHim,loveHimanddesiretofollowHim.Question:LikeZechariah,wearelivingindifficulttimes.HowdothevisionsandpropheciesofZechariah,giveyoueternalhope?Prayer: DearGod,sometimeslifeseemsconfusingandit’shardtoknowwheretoturn.HelpustoleanonyouandlookforwardtoChrist’sreturn.Thankyouforgivingushope.Amen.BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)
Thisweeksdevotionalwriters:
Monday:PaulMcPheetersTuesday:PaulMcPheeters
Wednesday:NancyMcLaughlinThursday:BethGovoniFriday:ChrisRedford