And the angel of the LORD solemnly assured Joshua, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.

 Zechariah 3:1-10

And the angel of the LORD solemnly assured Joshua, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. Zechariah 3:6-7

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 3:6-7, which the commentary outlines as the fifth of six divisions for the text 3:1-10 (3:1, 3:2, 3:3, 3:4-5, 3:6-7, 3:8-10).  Here, after the Lord removes Joshua's sin - see also previous two posts - the angel of the Lord (recognized by previous commentary as prophecy of Jesus) "solemnly assure[s] Joshua" that if he walks in God's ways and stay obedient to Him, then Joshua would rule in the temple (God's house) and have charge in his courts, which is rule over the government - essentially a religious and political leader.  One should not miss the back half of v7 where the angel of the Lord gives Joshua (if he walks in God's ways and is obedient) "right of access" among those who are standing here, which for believers is all persons of the Holy Trinity - including God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  What an incredible assurance!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You are available to me as promised here - thank You Jesus!  What an incredible assurance.  I am not deserving of such access and the associated blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.

2 Corinthians 1

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. 2 Corinthians 1:20

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at how believers should trust in Jesus in the present and to simultaneously "believe that his promises will come true." John Piper describes these as not two separate faiths as "[t]rusting Jesus — believing in Jesus for salvation — means believing that he keeps his word."  Piper goes on to share that "[b]eing satisfied in the crucified and risen Jesus includes the belief that at every future moment, to all eternity, nothing will separate us from his love, or keep him from working all things together for our good. And that “good” is ultimately seeing and savoring the beauty and worth of God in Christ as our supreme Treasure."  Piper refers us to Romans 8:32 to reinforce his claim. Piper wraps today's devotion by stating that "[i]f our present enjoyment of Christ now — our present faith — does not have in it the Yes to all God’s promises, it will not embrace the power for radical service in the strength that God (in every future moment) will supply (1 Peter 4:11)." 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are faithful and I can hold firm to Your promises - that they will come true.  You were faithful to the cross and You have never left or forsaken me - I can look forward to Your promises for the future with both hope and confidence!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You are faithful.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.