Transgressions – Page 2

9.t. “But their lies have led them astray”

Amos 2:4 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked.

Amos 2:6 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals— those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted;

Amos 2:11 And I raised up some of your sons for prophets, and some of your young men for Nazirites. Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?” declares the Lord. “But you made the Nazirites drink wine, and commanded the prophets, saying, You shall not prophesy.’ “Behold, I will press you down in your place, as a cart full of sheaves presses down. Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not retain his strength, nor shall the mighty save his life; he who handles the bow shall not stand, and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself, nor shall he who rides the horse save his life; and he who is stout of heart among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day,” declares the Lord.

How can someone reject what God expects inline with obedience? I fear it is easier than we think. Step back and take account of how much time was spent in His Word over the last week or two. Was there thirst and hunger for your soul? Was there anticipation for the Holy Spirit to speak into your heart and mind? When there is no desire and seeking how to humbly serve, honor, follow, trust, and obey Jesus Christ it is no wonder God can say “you have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept His statutes.” Not only this but because there is no hunger and thirst to serve and honor Him something else creeps into our lives – lies. These lies are born out of the lack of God’s Word and because of this, we are influenced by what the world, culture, and society deem appropriate. The worst part is that we buy into these lies. We buy into the lie that we are good enough and have done enough to merit God’s favor. We buy into the lie that if the world approves or condones something it is alright. A friend of mine told me this once, (I’m sure he heard it somewhere else) “right is right even though only one person is doing it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.” It is more than a lack of God’s Word in our daily lives that leads us to rejection of its application in our lives. It is the lack of desire, hunger, and thirst for God’s Word that allows lies to replace the absolute truth found it in. If ever there is a time to repent from this lack of desire and hunger it is now. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

9.r. Thus says the Lord: I will not revoke the punishment,

Amos 1:3 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron.

Amos 1:6 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they carried into exile a whole people to deliver them up to Edom.

Amose 1:9 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they delivered up a whole people to Edom, and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.

Amos 1:11 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pity, and his anger tore perpetually, and he kept his wrath forever.

Amos1:13 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead, that they might enlarge their border.

Amos 2:1 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom.

We read of Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammonites, and Moab. All of these did great sins against the Lord God. In their power, prosperity, pride, greed, and lack of concern for God they went about their day by day, month, by month, and year by year with every day taking more and more steps away from God. The first few days, weeks, months of a new king would define how the people reacted. So easily were they led away from God until He would punish their sin and draw them back. How long did God wait? Sometimes it was short and other times it was long, but in the end, God’s punishment came. It is not as though He did not send messengers (prophets) to warn them. It is not as though He did not give them a written word to guide them. It is not as though He did not do miracles in their presence to show His great power and love. All of these acts of disobedience have been recorded so that by them we might become aware of the sinful nature of man and how easy it is to turn away from God. When we grow in Christ, it is precept upon precept, line upon line, and word upon word, but only if we intentionally choose to be guided by it. When we surrender our lives to Christ we find wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in His word that gives us joy, hope, peace, power, courage, patience, and rest. Our soul is satisfied and yet hungers for more. We hear His whispers of guidance in our lives. We see lies being proclaimed and sin whitewashed and tolerated. God’s Word will speak to us just as in the days of prophets if we open our hearts and minds to it. It will teach us to see things in this world for what they are and give us hope for eternity even in the midst of trials that come.

139. For there is no one who does not sin

1 Kings 8:46 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them (for they are your people, and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace). Let your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Israel, giving ear to them whenever they call to you. For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your heritage, as you declared through Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.”

How do we know if there is sin in our life? How do we know if we are active in our walk with God? How do we know if our walk is worthy of honoring God?

“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin.” “ Psalms 19:12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.” “Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? “Ecclesiastes 7:20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” “Isaiah 64:6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” “1 John 1:8-10 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

I fear that we are thinking we are active in our walk with God and that our life is honoring Him but His word is far from our heart, mind, and soul. This is an intentional choice being made every single day to neglect His word, live for self, and give no thought about serving, honoring, glorifying, following, and obeying God on a deeper level each day. How can we say we are committed Christians and we spend little to no time in His word with the single thought of to know and understand Jesus Christ more and more so that we would honor and serve and become very aware of sin in our life.

Turning a blind eye or deaf ear to God’s word does not give us a pass on the sin in our life.

132. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us

2 Samuel 24:10 But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”

Psalms 32:5     I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

1 John 3:20-21    for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

Proverbs 28:13     Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

Micah 7:8-9     Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.  I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.

1 John 1:9     If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Sin sure has a way into our lives. It can sneak in through the doors of pride, lust, greed, and anger. It comes at us with subtle little morsels that entice self-indulgence, self-importance, self-want, and selfishness. Are we to think we are immune to these attacks? Are we able to even see them for what they are? Do our eyes and ears of our mind see and hear them coming and are they able to form a defense to fight the attacks?

(1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”) (Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance,”)

Every day is a battle against sin and we certainly need to be prepared for battle. Stay in His word. Have a humble heart toward God. Live to honor and glorify, serve, follow, and obey Him with your eyes on eternity and not on things of this world.

I acknowledged my sin to you

Psalms 119:25 My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes! Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!

Psalms 71:17 O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

Psalms 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Psalms 38:18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.

Psalms 51:1-19 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

“Can each one of us now say, in this sense, ‘I have declared my ways’ to the Lord? For this should be done, not only at our first coming to him, but continually throughout the whole of our life. We should look over each day, and sum up the errors of the day, and say, ‘I have declared my ways,’ — my naughty ways, my wicked ways, my wandering ways, my backsliding ways, my cold, indifferent ways, my proud ways.’” (Spurgeon)

Sin seems to find new and creative ways into our heart and mind. None of us are immune to it. None can stand before God and declare I have no sin. Turning a blind eye to God’s word, leading, whispers of teaching, warning, insightful revealing of His word should give no sense of calm to our soul. Neglect and complacent approach to His word allows a thick cloud to form over wisdom, understanding and knowledge of God, His holiness, and our purpose – “To humbly serve, honor, follow and obey.”

God’s word speaks to the heart and soul of those who will listen. It has the power to open our eyes to holiness and sin, forgiveness and renewal, weakness and power, sadness and joy, helplessness and courage, anxiousness and peace, wisdom and understanding, humbleness and pride, all for the purpose of knowing, serving, honoring, following and obeying God.

Light of the world

“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”

“ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”

“for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”

Psalms 107:10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.

Luke 1:79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Isaiah 42:7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Exodus 2:23-24 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

Job 36:8-9 And if they are bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction, then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.

Romans 6:20-21 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

I wonder if we get confused with what is light and what is darkness. For sure we know the physical difference between night and day, light and dark. However when it comes to sin darkness, do we see it? do we own it? do we understand it? do we know the author of darkness? When it comes to sin darkness, sometimes, it binds us in chains, blinds our eyes, and makes our senses unable to see or feel the love and light of Christ. We grope around trying to find a path forward. Sometimes we end up in darkness be cause we neglect the light. Other times we just plan fail to run to the light, choosing rather to remain in the darkness. What are we to do when we see someone in darkness? Show them the light. Encourage them with the light. Proclaim the light. And at other times allow the light of Christ flow through you. We all have found ourselves in darkness. Allow God to use you as a light to others and always pointing to Him alone.

Give Thanks for He is good

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

“I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.”

Psalms 107:1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

1 Chronicles 16:34 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalms 119:68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

Psalms 136:1-9 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. Give thanks to Him Who alone does great works, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. Give thanks to Him Who by wisdom made the heavens, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. Give thanks to Him Who spread out the earth upon the waters, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. Give thanks to Him Who made the great lights, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. He made the sun to rule during the day, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. He made the moon and stars to rule during the night, for His loving-kindness lasts forever.

Psalms 103:17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,

Deuteronomy 7:8 but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Jeremiah 15:21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”

Isaiah 43:5-6 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.

God does not change and His love is steadfast even though we walk paths apart and away from Him. This call to give thanks includes creation, mighty awesome deeds of protection, and redemption. We deserve none of it. We all like sheep have gone astray seeking satisfaction and purpose apart from God. Giving thanks should call to remembrance all that we know about God and what He has done, is doing, and will do. Give thanks at all times and in all situations for He is worthy.

He does not deal with us according to our sins

“For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.”

“Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

“O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.”

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Psalms 86:13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Psalms 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Luke 1:58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

Psalms 16:10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

Psalms 56:13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Psalms 116:8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;

Job 33:18 he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

Job 33:24 and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;

Isaiah 38:17 Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.

Satan tells us lies. Our own sinful nature believes them sometimes. Satan will continue to throw our past sins into our mind and tell us we are no good and remind us of things we used to do. Satan wants us to forget promises from God. He wants us to live defeated, complacent, lukewarm, without victory, with wavering hope, little faith, no peace, and without joy. God says; He will not repay us according to our sin, our past sins are no more, they are cast behind His back, they are as far as the east is from the west, we are redeemed, we are forgiven, we are a child of Him, we have been brought back from the pit of hell.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

The path to eternity in Hell is certain without Jesus Christ. The path to eternity in Heaven is certain with Jesus Christ. There is no forgiveness of Sin apart from Jesus Christ. The path to forgiveness for all past and future sin is through confessing them to God and trusting in, clinging to, and relying on Jesus Christ and through His redeeming work on the cross. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. We can be confident, by faith, that we are forgiven and our sins are washed away. We can live victoriously and give glory and praise to God for His steadfast love, grace, and mercy.

Who am I to Judge

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

““Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;”

“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

John 8:2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Isaiah 1:16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Ezekiel 18:30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”

It is easy to judge others isn’t it? We see the outward sins of others and make judgement. Yet we to often look on the outside and make these judgements forgetting it is what is in the heart, mind and soul (the unseen) condemns or frees a person. Scripture is clear in stating that only God knows the heart, mind, soul and intent of man and is the One who judges in truth and righteousness.

And they fled

Zechariah 13:7 “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones. In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

Matthew 26:56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Mark 14:27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

Mark 14:50 And they all left him and fled.

John 16:32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone.

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Can you imagine what it would be like to have lived in the time of Zechariah and hearing this and then 400+ years later it being fulfilled. How many people during that time looked at this and said “more foolishness” or “this makes no sense”. Much about the gospel is foolishness to those who do not believe. Prior to being saved each of us would have to say it was words on paper to which we had no wisdom or understanding. Then at some point God opened our heart and mind to this wonderful news in a way that is almost unexplainable. Our whole life changed in that moment. We saw everything in a new light. It was as though blinders were taken off our eyes and everything was made new. In fact scripture says at this moment of belief we are new creations. Our previous purpose of living, doing, saying, thinking…. all went away …… but we need to be ever diligent knowing this sinful nature lurks. Lust of the eyes (I want more), lust of the flesh (I want the pleasure), pride of life (I want prestige). Satan is behind every temptation. Peter, knowing this, put it this way: 2Pe 1:4 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.