Diamond Column #5

Small Beginnings . . .

     This fall I was encouraged to make a list of ten goals. The list has been tacked up on my desk all semester, but I haven’t paid much attention to it. Looking at it now, I’ve realized that I set my goals waaay to high. If you’re in the same boat as me—realizing you didn’t get everything done that you wanted to this semester, were hoping to grow more spiritually and didn’t, or whatever the case may be, then I want to offer some encouragement. Even if you’re not feeling that way, maybe you can take this away for further use. J

        It’s an Old Testament parallel from  Zechariah 4:6-10 (mine is New Living Translation) Go ahead and read it and then here’s a little summary.

       God’s people have just been released out of captivity in Babylon. God’s Temple is in ruins. The Temple has to be rebuilt, and God tells Zechariah that Zerubbabel is going to lay the foundation of His Temple and complete it (vs 8). And how is this going to happen? Not by force…not by strength…but by God’s Spirit. (vs 6) With God’s Spirit, Zerubbabel will not be stopped by anything. The biggest mountains will become level fields that cannot keep him from setting the capstone of the Temple in place. So even though Zerubbabel might look at all the work that has to be done on the Temple and feel discouraged, God tells him, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…” God is trying to give Zerubbabel a little pep-talk.

       Now here’s the parallel: We are God’s people released out of captivity of sin. God’s Temple—which is our own bodies, by the way, according to 1 Cor. 6:19—may not be in total ruins, but they’re certainly not a finished product. Our Temple has to be rebuilt and God is telling us that we will lay the foundation and complete it. And how is this going to happen? It’s not by forcing ourselves to be good Christians or by having really strong self-discipline. It’s by His Spirit! With God’s Spirit, we will not be stopped by anything. The biggest obstacles in our walk with God will become level fields that cannot keep us from setting Christ, the capstone of our Temple, in place. Even though we might look at all the work that has to be done on our Temple and feel discouraged, God tells us, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” The beginnings are small, but the capstone—the perfect finishing touch—will be set. And when that happens, we will shout: “God bless it! God bless it!” Do not despise your beginnings, no matter how small. Simply continue to look forward, relying on His Spirit’s power and blessings and knowing that God is rejoicing to see you become more like Him. J