TheRoadtoEmmaus

AdailydevotionalfortheForestdaleCommunityChurch

May22–26,2017

ThisweekinStillness&SilenceThefocusofthisweek’sdevotionalisthecelebrationofJesusasourhighpriestandking.Inyourtimesofstillnessthisweek,bowbeforeJesusandplaceyourselfunderHispriestlysacrificeofatonementforsin,andsubmityourselftohiskinglyLordshipoveryourlife.Soasyoubeginthedevotionalseachdaythisweek:

• Sitdownandtakeafewdeepbreathstosettleintosilence.• Usethesimpleprayer,“Lord,havemercy,”tofocusyourmind

andheartuponHissacrificialmercyandLordship.• CloseyoureyesandofferthisprayertoJesus,allowingHiswill

andlovefullaccessinyourlife.• BowbeforeHim.WaituponHim.HonorHim.

Afterafewminutes,youarereadytobeginthedevotional.

Monday: MakingtheConnection

BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)

Scripture:Zechariah6:11Takethesilverandgoldandmakeacrown,andsetitonthe

headofthehighpriest,JoshuasonofJehozadak.Devotional InthetimeoftheprophetZechariah,theIsraelitesarereturningfromexileinBabylon.Theyarecomingback‘indribsanddrabs’overthecourseofmanyyears.ButtheirtoppriorityistorebuildtheTempleinJerusalemasthefirststeptore-establishingtheirnation.AndinthispassageweseethreereturningIsraelitesbringingthanksgivingofferingsofsilverandgoldtotheTreasurerofthe“TempleBuildingProject,”tosupportthiswork. However,Goddoesasurprisingthing!HetellsZechariahtotakethesilverandgold,whichwasintendedforrebuildingtheTemple,andmakeacrownoutofit.Thentakethecrownandplaceitontheheadofthehighpriest,JoshuasonofJehozadak.Thiswasanextraordinaryactiontotake!SincethetimeofMosesandAaron,therehadbeenaclearseparationofpowersinIsraelbetweenthepriestsofthelineofLevi,andthekings(whowouldultimatelybeofthelineofJudah).ButhereGodhasZechariahplaceakinglycrownontheheadofahighpriest,andthepriest’snameisJoshua. ThoughthisJoshuasonofJehozadakwasarealpersoninZechariah’sday,heisalsoan“archetype”ofthecomingChrist,whosenamewouldbeJoshua(JesusinGreek),andwhowouldtrulycombinetheofficesofpriestandkinginhisoneperson

Question:WecallJesus“Savior”and“Lord.”Howdothosetwotitlesreflecttheofficesof“priest”and“King?”

BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)

Prayer:LordJesus,thankYouforYourpriestlyandsacrificialworkofatonementfortheforgivenessofmysins.TakeupalsoYourrightfulplaceasLordandKingofmylife.IbowbeforeYou.Amen.

Tuesday:Prayer

BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)

Scripture:Zechariah6:11-12Takethesilverandgoldandmakeacrown,andsetitonthe

headofthehighpriest,JoshuasonofJehozadak.TellhimthisiswhattheLORDAlmightysays:‘HereisthemanwhosenameistheBranch,andhewillbranchoutfromhisplaceandbuildthetempleoftheLord.’

Devotional Weseehereinverse12,thatthoughGodiscallingZechariahtoplaceakinglycrownontheheadofarealhighpriest,JoshuathesonofJehozadak,thisisclearlyasymbolicactthatpointsforwardtothecomingChrist.ThedecisiveclueisthatGodcallsZechariahtonametheman“TheBranch”ashecrownshim. TheBranchisatitlefortheMessiahthatisfoundinmanyplacesintheprophets: Isaiah11:1“AshootwillcomeupfromthestumpofJesse,

fromhisrootsaBranchwillbearfruit….” Jeremiah33:15“InthosedaysandatthattimeIwillmakea

righteousBranchsproutfromDavid’sline;hewilldowhatisjustandrightintheland….”

JoshuasonofJehozadakcouldnotbethat“Branch”himself,becausehewasnotofthelineofDavid.Andthough,asthehighpriestofIsraelatthetime,hewasworkingatrebuildingGod’stemple,itwouldultimatelybethefutureYeshua(Jesus)whowouldboth“buildGod’sTemple”(theChurch)andsitandruleonGod’sthroneinmajesty.ItisJesuswhoistheBranchfromthelineofDavid.Heisthetruepriestandking,whohas“branchedout”andextendedtherealmofGod’sKingdomaroundtheworld.

Question:WhatprayerwouldyouoffertoJesusasyour“highpriest”today?WhatprayerwouldyouoffertoJesusasyour“king”today?

BeStillBeforetheLord(2minutes)

Prayer:GoaheadandprayyourprayerstoyourPriestandKing.

Wednesday:Rest

BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)

Scripture:Zechariah9:9-10Rejoicegreatly,DaughterZion!Shout,DaughterJerusalem!See,yourkingcomestoyou,righteousandvictorious,lowlyandridingonadonkey,onacolt,thefoalofadonkey.…Hewillproclaimpeacetothenations.Hisrulewillextendfromseatosea,andfromtheRivertotheendsoftheearth.

Devotional IamsurprisedathowwellZechariahdescribesJesushere.Hesays“yourKing”isarighteousandvictoriousKing,andalsocharacterizesHimaslowly/humble.(IthoughtonlyIsaiahwasthisexplicitaboutthecomingMessiah!)HereweseehowJesus’rulewillextendtotheendsoftheearth.HewillbetheLordofthosewhoarelocal,theJews,andthosewholive“totheendsoftheearth”(us!).TheGentilesjoininrebuildingthetemplenotwithstonesorphysicalmaterial,butwiththeirfaithinGodandthefruitoftheHolySpirit.

Hegivesusthefruitoflove,joy,peace,patience,kindness,goodness,faithfulness,gentleness,andself-controltoreshapeourheartsandmindssothatitisnolongerwewholivebutChristinus.AbidinginJesus,webecomeawareoftheneedsandconcernsofothersandtreatallpeoplewithvalueanddignity.God,byHisSpiritisbehindthis.Hefitseachofusintotheblueprintofthebuilding.WearebeingbuiltintoaspiritualhouseandbecomethelivingTempleofGod!

Question:DoyouknowyouarealivingstoneinGod’stemple?Howcanknowingthistransformthewayyouloveothers?

BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)

Prayer:DearLord,helpmetobestillbeforeyou.LeadmetoagreatervisionofWhoYouare,andinsodoing,helpmeseemyselfandhowIfitintoYourpurposeformylife.ThankyouforcountingmeworthytobepartoftheSpiritualTemple.PraiseistotheLordJesus,theFoundation,thePreciousCornerstoneuponwhichYoubuildYourchurch.Amen.

Thursday:RelationshipBeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Scripture:Zechariah6:15

ThosewhoarefarawaywillcomeandhelptobuildthetempleoftheLord,andyouwillknowthattheLordAlmightyhassentmetoyou.ThiswillhappenifyoudiligentlyobeytheLordyourGod.

Devotional:

God’ssovereignty.That’swhattheBiblebeginswith,andthatiswherethestorywillend.ThispassageinZechariahhighlightsthatGod’speoplearegrantedaroleinhisplan,butHeisultimatelyincharge.SometimesashumanswecanforgetwhatourroleisinourrelationshipwiththeLord.Heisourfriend;Heisourcomforter;Heismany,manythingstoallofus.SometimesIlosesightofGodassovereign.Iamcomfortablearoundhim.MyrelationshipwithhisSonhasgrantedmethatprivilege.ButIappreciatepassagesthatremindmethatGodcallsustodiligentlyobey.Thisrequiresafocusandacommitment.AnotgettingsocomfortableandfamiliarintherelationshipthatweforgetourroleinbuildingthebodyofChristalongwithheedingourcalltodiligentlyobeyallthethingshecallsusto.Question:AreyouabletokeepGod’sSovereigntyinfocusinyourrelationshipwithHim? BeStillBeforetheLord(2minutes)Prayer: Lord,asPriestandKing,youareMakerandRuleroverall.Withoutyou,wewouldn’thavetheopportunityofsalvationandtheassuranceofYourKingshipoveryourkingdom.Thankyouforthosetimesthatyouallowustoplayaroleinyourplan.Helpustodiligentlyobeyyouandtokeepyoursovereigntyfirstandforemostinourheartsandminds.Amen.

Friday: WorkBeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Scripture:Zechariah14:9

“TheLORDwillbekingoverthewholeearth.OnthatdaytherewillbeoneLORD,andhisnametheonlyname.”

Devotional:

Zechariahlivedinadifficultera.ThenationofIsraelwassplitanditspeoplewerelivinginaperiodofstruggleandtension.GodusedZechariahtoshowthemthataDeliverwouldcometosavethem.Theywouldnolongerhavetoliveundertyrannicalrulerswhohadonlytheirownbestinterestsinmind;butGodpromisedthattherewillcomeadaywhentheLordwillreign.Hewillruleoverthewholeearth.Wewon’thavetoworryaboutfairness,honesty,andinsensitivity.JesusisreturningtoearthinordertoreplacetheinjusticeoftheworldforpeoplewhobelieveinHim.ZechariahispleadingwiththeIsraelitestoreturntoGodbecauseGodhasgreatthingsinstoreforthemandus.Wedon’thavetoworkourwaytoGod.WeneedtoacceptHim,loveHimanddesiretofollowHim.Question:LikeZechariah,wearelivingindifficulttimes.HowdothevisionsandpropheciesofZechariah,giveyoueternalhope?Prayer: DearGod,sometimeslifeseemsconfusingandit’shardtoknowwheretoturn.HelpustoleanonyouandlookforwardtoChrist’sreturn.Thankyouforgivingushope.Amen.BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)

Thisweeksdevotionalwriters:

Monday:PaulMcPheetersTuesday:PaulMcPheeters

Wednesday:NancyMcLaughlinThursday:BethGovoniFriday:ChrisRedford