What Do People Say About Us?

Zechariah 8 The leaders from Bethel had come to inquire regarding the fasts they had been keeping. Should we continue as we have these last 68 yrs.? God did not directly answer that question of them but He did tell them what He required. It is the same answer He gave to Micah and later to James which is “do good, love mercy and faithfulness and obey God.” James added to those words by saying care for the orphans and widows in their adversity.

Instead of directly answering their question, he probed their hearts and saw their hypocrisy. He asked them “did you truly fast for me…and now are you not doing it for yourselves?” An outward ritual of fasting and keeping the traditions is not what God is looking for. Isaiah had prophesied correctly about their hypocrisy. “You honor God with your lips, [and their fasting,] but your heart is far from Him.”

But when our heart is pure and righteous and we do that which God loves, others take note! They want to know why God is blessing us. They want to know the secret of our peace. They will say, “let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

Are others asking those questions of you? Are you ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess?