SCRIPTURE: Zechariah 2
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it. And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’ [Zechariah 2:4-5]
We have heard earlier that the temple was a symbol of God’s special relationship with His people, living in their midst, one with them in love.
When the city and temple were destroyed, and the people scattered, it was a painful severing between God and His people – but now He is returning!
And what He has always envisioned, what He worked for despite human resistance and rebellion, will now be restored – reconciliation between God and all people!
“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD. “Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. [Zechariah 2:10-11]

Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. [John 17:1-3]
Jesus prays for all people, not just the Jews.
He has been given authority over all nations, so that He might reconciled those that will be restored to God – to give them eternal life.
And eternal life is not just never-ending physical life, it is the original life of creation that God intended for us: life in perfect fellowship with God, one another and creation.
And at the center of it all is God, and our relationship with Him, and with Jesus.
This reminds me of Genesis 3:8 where God comes into the garden for a walk.
The invisible God made visible (Son of God) living among His people.
This is the life we were made for, the life we long for, the life we need – eternal life!
This is what God has been working on from the beginning.
This is what He is revealing to His people through Zechariah, that the day is coming!

The continuing theme in the bible is that God wants a relationship with us.
It’s not about religion, church, rituals, etc, these are just symbols of what really counts.
He loves us not because we are religious, He loves us because we are His children.
We are the apple of His eye (the eyeball, sensitive, precious) [Zechariah 2:8]
He wants to enjoy this world with us…
But like Adam and Eve we resist, we run away.
What are we thinking?

PRAYER:
Lord, there is no greater life imaginable that to live in perfect fellowship with You and all others in Your world. This is eternal life!