As we celebrate the dawn of a new year, this week marks a good time to both reflect on the past and anticipate the future. As you consider what 2015 will hold, I encourage you to first and foremost consider what God’s will is for your life. I’m mindful of an account in the book of Zechariah in which God revealed His will to His people in Judah to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. Years earlier, the temple had been destroyed when they were taken captive by their enemies. When they were allowed to return to their homeland, they began rebuilding the temple right away under the leadership of a man named Zerubbabel. However, after a while they faced some opposition, grew discouraged, and stopped their work. The rebuilding project came to a halt, and the temple remained unfinished.
Does this scene sound familiar? We often have too many unfinished projects! As you reflect on 2014, maybe you can remember a few steps you began to take in obedience to God. However, for one reason or another, you stopped and never really finished what God put in your heart. That’s exactly what happened to Zerubbabel. While he had started the work on the temple, he had never finished it. However, God sent His word to him, declaring, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it” (Zech. 4:9, NKJV).
God wanted to see a completion of the vision he had placed in Zerubbabel’s heart, and I believe He wants to see the completion of the vision He placed in your heart as well! Whatever you’ve done in an effort to serve God, I encourage you to continue the work! Don’t let the dream God gave you lay idle; keep building! God went on to say that His eyes “rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel” (Zech. 4:10, NKJV). In other words, God took pleasure in seeing Zerubbabel put his tools to work for God. I encourage you to take the tools God has given you and put them to work for Him!
In 2015, don’t let past failures or successes stop you from moving forward with God! Keep following Him, keep trusting Him, and keep working for Him! Know that His plan is good! “’For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jer. 29:11, NIV).
Reflections 