JAN 4

Zechariah 4:6
Memorise Zechariah 4:6
“God is our refuge and strength”

As Zechariah 4:6 testifies, God does not need the might and power of man, but by His Spirit alone, He can preserve Israel. Yet He empowers men of faith with His Spirit to accomplish His purpose, just as He used Zerubabbel and Joshua during the time of Zechariah to lead Israel. Likewise God empowers men of His choosing and uses them to lead and guide His church to the truth. Through it all, God alone who receives all glory, for it is only by His Spirit that great works are accomplished.

Throughout history, God has preserved a remnant who remained faithful to Him and His Word, even before the Reformation. One such faithful group of remnants was the Waldenses who sought refuge from the cruel persecution of the Roman Catholic Church in the Piedmont Valleys of northern Italy. They stood firm on the truth for the cause of Christ and the gospel. They continuously studied the Word of God and rejected offerings and prayers for the dead, purgatory and the abomination of the mass. John Wycliffe in England also fought the good fight of faith, and was active in reforming the religious customs and practices of his day. He spoke against the Pope, sought to remove immoral clergymen and refuted their false teachings. John Huss was influenced by Wycliffe’s writings and also sought to reform the Roman Catholic practices but was condemned. It was all in the providence of God that even during the Dark Ages of the church, there was always a remnant that was valiant for the truth.

Dear teen, have you ever wondered how a small remnant can be so powerful to change the known world? The answer is that the Spirit of God was moving and working in their midst. Yes, in everything that you do or say, whether witnessing, serving or studying God’s Word, it is not human strength, but the Spirit of God that will preserve you and enable you to bear fruit. You find it difficult to witness to your friend who asks so many questions that you do not know the answer to. Never despair; rely on the Holy Spirit, pray, and study God’s Word to find the answers. If it is God’s will for your friend to be saved, His Spirit will convict him in due time. Remember that God is giving us an opportunity to serve Him faithfully, even though He is able to do it all by Himself. Trust Him with all your heart!

Thought: Abide in Christ to bear much fruit.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be constantly abiding in Thee.