Zechariah 1-2

Webster’s dictionary defines encouragement as, “the action of giving someone support, confidence, and hope”. This is the role that Zechariah will play with the people of God over the next week as we read his words. Zechariah is a contemporary of the prophet Haggai. Haggai comes with word of rebuke and dire need for repentance from God. Zechariah shows up and counters that with a word of encouragement. God understand we need both and each at different times in our lives. There are times in life when our pride and sin has puffed us up and God needs to humble us and knock our knees out from under us. Then there are times when our sin and brokenness has beaten us down and God needs to lift us back up and make us clean with His message of hope. Zechariah and his visions are a message of hope. They give hope to the people of God in the big areas of God’s sovereignty and also in the return of the Savior. Over the next week as we read through Zechariah, look for the messages of hope and the day of Christ return. And I pray that as we read through this “minor”, yet major prophet, that you feel the hope and encouragement from God’s Word.