Corona Devo 3206

How is our plumb line?  

No....not our plum line... 

Our...plumb line. 

How is our plumb line? 

Okay, first: What is it?  What is a plumb line? 

Ask any carpenter or builder, dating back to about the 15th century (the first time the term was used).  Or, if we were to ask the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it would say that a plumb line is: 

a line (as of cord) that has at one end a weight (such as a plumb bob) and is used especially to determine verticality.  

A plumb line is a simple tool consisting of a string with a heavy weight (plumb bob) attached to one end.  By relying on gravity, it provides a perfectly straight vertical reference line used to ensure structures are true, measure depths, or align objects.  ~Merriam-Webster Dictionary

A plumb line is a device that keeps things (measurements/structures/foundations) on the straight and narrow...literally, and in the Bible, God uses the term plumb line to remind and associate His people with His(!) true, honest, and righteous route in life. 


Again, how is our plumb line?

The Bible tells us about someone who had a good plumb line, and his name was Zerubbabel.

Zerubbabel was one of two leaders that God chose to lead His people (in effort and in faith) as they returned to Jerusalem after the people of Israel had been exiled and in captivity in Babylon for about 70 years. 

Zerubbabel got the idea from God to initiate construction in rebuilding the Lord's Temple, and Zerubbabel began the construction.

God gave Zerubbabel a task...and Zerubbabel began it!  
Humbly and simply...but surely, measuredly, honestly, truly, and faithfully,...Zerubbabel obeyed God and followed Him. 

God loved that about Zerubbabel (that he began God's work).    

Zerubbabel was not showy or mega...Zerubbabel was humble and faithful.  Zerubbabel followed the plumb line of God, and it blessed God.

Then another message came to me from the Lord: (9) “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. (10) Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”   ~Zechariah 4:8-10

Zerubbabel followed the plumb line of God, and we can too.  The Lord rejoices to see the work begin (Zechariah 4:10).

Begin God's work today.

Zerubbabel began and progressed and succeeded because Zerubbabel relied on God's force and strength, instead of His own. 

God loved that.

Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. (7) Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’ ” 

~~~

What needs to be started that God has tasked us with?  (It's not too late.  It's not too early.) 

Let's (simply) begin today.  
And let's begin simply today. 
And if we have already initiated that kick-off, then be encouraged and affirmed today to continue today.  

It can be difficult to begin God's work sometimes, but it can also be difficult to continue in it.  
Keep going today.  

God loves to see us diligent about His work. 




Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. (7) Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’ ” 

(8) Then another message came to me from the Lord: (9) “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. (10) Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”  ~Zechariah 4:6-10

~~~

A plumb line is a device that keeps things (measurements/structures/foundations) on the straight and narrow...literally.

God is using the term plumb line to remind and associate us with His true, honest, and righteous route in lfe. 

Has God given us a task?  Begin it!

Or if we've been working at it, and we've lost some gusto...keep it up, Child of God.  Let's persevere today in following the plumb line of our Father.

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”  ~Zechariah 4:10 

Change Zerubbabel’s name to our own in this verse.  

Change our faith/service/duty/perseverance/obedience in our life-assignment from the Lord to Zerubbabel’s faith/service/duty/perseverance/obedience assignment for rebuilding God's Temple.

Whatever we are called by God to do today, follow His plumb line.  And--not by our force or strength, but by His Spirit...Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in our way.

Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. (7) Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’ " ~Zechariah 4:6-7 


Blessings,

sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Corona Devo 1065

Image
It’s never too late to turn to the Lord.   And--it’s never too late to turn back to the Lord.   Do we GET IT?   King Hezekiah GOT IT.   The people in his area (Israel) had not been following the Lord, and they had fallen away from the (God-ordained) traditions that the Lord had designed to connect His people with Himself,  like going to church (Temple), and like celebrating the festival of Passover.  So they sent a proclamation throughout all Israel...inviting everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the  Lord , the God of Israel. The people had not been celebrating it in great numbers as required in the Law ( 2 Chronicles 30:5). Hezekiah  invited the people back to church!  But how to get the word out? He  wrote letters of invitation to the people (2 Chronicles 30:1), but letters without delivery are dead messages.  Hezekiah needed to get the letters ... to God's people! At the king’s command, runners were...
Read more

Corona Devo 1063

Image
Ever been around boys (of any age)?  They don't concern themselves with talking about   other  boys...they are not (usually) comparative that way, and would prefer to be competitive instead.  They are often contented with jokes and sounds, rather than defaming other guys or discussing their shortfalls. But...ever been around women ( of any age )?  For some sinful reason, our conversations often seem to p ick-a-little, talk-a-little, pick some more and talk, talk, talk about other women.  We  simmer into a boil as we digress and regress into unbecoming chatter about   other  women.   It's a terrible habit and yet girls in elementary school don't need to be taught how and even elderly church biddies can't quite fully withdraw.  We all still fall to condemning others  from time to time.  We have this sinful draw to make ourselves feel good by chirping back and forth and making someone   else   feel bad. It's na...
Read more

Corona Devo 1064

Image
The earth is the   Lord ’s, and everything in it.   The world and all its people belong to him.   (2)  For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas  and built it on the ocean depths.   ~Psalm 24:1-2 We belong to Him, but also…our world belongs to Him: and  everything in it .   Everything.   Every tree and flower, every person, every pelican, everything. How are we responding to that glorious Truth today?   Can we praise Him today?  Can we acknowledge and absorb (and respond!) to the awesome Truth that we belong to Him :  the Creator of all things, and our Creator?   He laid the earth’s foundation ...and (even)  the earth  knows that it belongs to him ... Do we? Are we choosing to respond to Him today?   The trees do.    Looking out my window as I read these words of God, I saw these words  proven by God as n aked tree-branch arms were raised in praise of their Creat...
Read more