Church: +64 (09) 235 2238 Op Shop: +64 (09) 235 7914
Reading Plan
Day 272 Day 273Day 274

Zechariah chapter 7

1
In the fourth year that Darius was emperor, on the fourth day of the ninth month (the month of Kislev), the LORD gave me a message.
2
The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech and their men to the Temple of the LORD Almighty to pray for the LORD's blessing
3
and to ask the priests and the prophets this question: "Should we continue to mourn because of the destruction of the Temple, by fasting in the fifth month as we have done for so many years now?"
4
This is the message of the LORD that came to me.
5
He said, "Tell the people of the land and the priests that when they fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during these seventy years, it was not in honor of me.
6
And when they ate and drank, it was for their own satisfaction."
7
This is what the LORD said through the earlier prophets at the time when Jerusalem was prosperous and filled with people and when there were many people living not only in the towns around the city but also in the southern region and in the western foothills.
8
The LORD gave this message to Zechariah:
9
"Long ago I gave these commands to my people: 'You must see that justice is done, and must show kindness and mercy to one another.
10
Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners who live among you, or anyone else in need. And do not plan ways of harming one another.'
11
"But my people stubbornly refused to listen. They closed their minds
12
and made their hearts as hard as rock. Because they would not listen to the teaching which I sent through the prophets who lived long ago, I became very angry.
13
Because they did not listen when I spoke, I did not answer when they prayed.
14
Like a storm I swept them away to live in foreign countries. This good land was left a desolate place, with no one living in it."

Zechariah chapter 8

1
The LORD Almighty gave this message to Zechariah:
2
"I have longed to help Jerusalem because of my deep love for her people, a love which has made me angry with her enemies.
3
I will return to Jerusalem, my holy city, and live there. It will be known as the faithful city, and the hill of the LORD Almighty will be called the sacred hill.
4
Once again old men and women, so old that they use canes when they walk, will be sitting in the city squares.
5
And the streets will again be full of boys and girls playing.
6
"This may seem impossible to those of the nation who are now left, but it's not impossible for me.
7
I will rescue my people from the lands where they have been taken,
8
and will bring them back from east and west to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, ruling over them faithfully and justly.
9
"Have courage! You are now hearing the same words the prophets spoke at the time the foundation was being laid for rebuilding my Temple.
10
Before that time no one could afford to hire either men or animals, and no one was safe from enemies. I turned people against one another.
11
But now I am treating the survivors of this nation differently.
12
They will plant their crops in peace. Their vines will bear grapes, the earth will produce crops, and there will be plenty of rain. I will give all these blessings to the people of my nation who survive.
13
People of Judah and Israel! In the past foreigners have cursed one another by saying, 'May the same disasters fall on you that fell on Judah and Israel!' But I will save you, and then those foreigners will say to one another, 'May you receive the same blessings that came to Judah and Israel!' So have courage and don't be afraid."
14
The LORD Almighty says, "When your ancestors made me angry, I planned disaster for them and did not change my mind, but carried out my plans.
15
But now I am planning to bless the people of Jerusalem and Judah. So don't be afraid.
16
These are the things you should do: Speak the truth to one another. In the courts give real justice---the kind that brings peace.
17
Do not plan ways of harming one another. Do not give false testimony under oath. I hate lying, injustice, and violence."
18
The LORD Almighty gave this message to Zechariah:
19
"The fasts held in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become festivals of joy and gladness for the people of Judah. You must love truth and peace."
20
The LORD Almighty says, "The time is coming when people from many cities will come to Jerusalem.
21
Those from one city will say to those from another, 'We are going to worship the LORD Almighty and pray for his blessing. Come with us!'
22
Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to worship the LORD Almighty and to pray for his blessing.
23
In those days ten foreigners will come to one Jew and say, 'We want to share in your destiny, because we have heard that God is with you.' "

Zechariah chapter 9

1
This is the LORD's message: He has decreed punishment for the land of Hadrach and for the city of Damascus. Not only the tribes of Israel but also the capital of Syria belong to the LORD.
2
Hamath, which borders on Hadrach, also belongs to him, and so do the cities of Tyre and Sidon, with all their skill.
3
Tyre has built fortifications for herself and has piled up so much silver and gold that it is as common as dirt!
4
But the Lord will take away everything she has. He will throw her wealth into the sea, and the city will be burned to the ground.
5
The city of Ashkelon will see this and be afraid. The city of Gaza will see it and suffer great pain. So will Ekron, and her hopes will be shattered. Gaza will lose her king, and Ashkelon will be left deserted.
6
People of mixed race will live in Ashdod. The LORD says, "I will humble all these proud Philistines.
7
They will no longer eat meat with blood in it, or other forbidden food. All the survivors will become part of my people and be like a clan in the tribe of Judah. Ekron will become part of my people, as the Jebusites did.
8
I will guard my land and keep armies from passing through it. I will not allow tyrants to oppress my people any more. I have seen how my people have suffered."
9
Rejoice, rejoice, people of Zion! Shout for joy, you people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you! He comes triumphant and victorious, but humble and riding on a donkey--- on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10
The LORD says, "I will remove the war chariots from Israel and take the horses from Jerusalem; the bows used in battle will be destroyed. Your king will make peace among the nations; he will rule from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth."
11
The LORD says, "Because of my covenant with you that was sealed by the blood of sacrifices, I will set your people free--- free from the waterless pit of exile.
12
Return, you exiles who now have hope; return to your place of safety. Now I tell you that I will repay you twice over with blessing for all you have suffered.
13
I will use Judah like a soldier's bow and Israel like the arrows. I will use the men of Zion like a sword, to fight the men of Greece."
14
The LORD will appear above his people; he will shoot his arrows like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms from the south.
15
The LORD Almighty will protect his people, and they will destroy their enemies. They will shout in battle like drunk men and will shed the blood of their enemies; it will flow like the blood of a sacrifice poured on the altar from a bowl.
16
When that day comes, the LORD will save his people, as a shepherd saves his flock from danger. They will shine in his land like the jewels of a crown.
17
How good and beautiful the land will be! The young people will grow strong on its grain and wine.

Luke chapter 13

1
At that time some people were there who told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God.
2
Jesus answered them, "Because those Galileans were killed in that way, do you think it proves that they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?
3
No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did.
4
What about those eighteen people in Siloam who were killed when the tower fell on them? Do you suppose this proves that they were worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem?
5
No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did."
6
Then Jesus told them this parable: "There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none.
7
So he said to his gardener, 'Look, for three years I have been coming here looking for figs on this fig tree, and I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it go on using up the soil?'
8
But the gardener answered, 'Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig around it and put in some fertilizer.
9
Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.' "
10
One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in a synagogue.
11
A woman there had an evil spirit that had kept her sick for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not straighten up at all.
12
When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, "Woman, you are free from your sickness!"
13
He placed his hands on her, and at once she straightened herself up and praised God.
14
The official of the synagogue was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, so he spoke up and said to the people, "There are six days in which we should work; so come during those days and be healed, but not on the Sabbath!"
15
The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Any one of you would untie your ox or your donkey from the stall and take it out to give it water on the Sabbath.
16
Now here is this descendant of Abraham whom Satan has kept in bonds for eighteen years; should she not be released on the Sabbath?"
17
His answer made his enemies ashamed of themselves, while the people rejoiced over all the wonderful things that he did.
18
Jesus asked, "What is the Kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with?
19
It is like this. A man takes a mustard seed and plants it in his field. The plant grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make their nests in its branches."
20
Again Jesus asked, "What shall I compare the Kingdom of God with?
21
It is like this. A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of flour until the whole batch of dough rises."
22
Jesus went through towns and villages, teaching the people and making his way toward Jerusalem.
23
Someone asked him, "Sir, will just a few people be saved?" Jesus answered them,
24
"Do your best to go in through the narrow door; because many people will surely try to go in but will not be able.
25
The master of the house will get up and close the door; then when you stand outside and begin to knock on the door and say, 'Open the door for us, sir!' he will answer you, 'I don't know where you come from!'
26
Then you will answer, 'We ate and drank with you; you taught in our town!'
27
But he will say again, 'I don't know where you come from. Get away from me, all you wicked people!'
28
How you will cry and gnash your teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, while you are thrown out!
29
People will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down at the feast in the Kingdom of God.
30
Then those who are now last will be first, and those who are now first will be last."
31
At that same time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "You must get out of here and go somewhere else, because Herod wants to kill you."
32
Jesus answered them, "Go and tell that fox: 'I am driving out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I shall finish my work.'
33
Yet I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day; it is not right for a prophet to be killed anywhere except in Jerusalem.
34
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets, you stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me!
35
And so your Temple will be abandoned. I assure you that you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord.' "

Translate

enzh-CNnlfrdeitjakoptrues

Subscribe To Our Newsletter