MAY 27, 2023
READ: Zechariah 4:4–10
MEMORY VERSE
“Who dares despise the day of small things?” Zechariah 4:10
BACKGROUND
Will I make the Olympics? The college swimmer worried her speed was too slow. But when math professor Ken Ono studied her swim techniques, he saw how to improve her time by six full seconds—a substantial difference at that level of competition.
Attaching sensors to the swimmer’s back, he didn’t identify major changes to improve her time. Instead, Ono identified tiny corrective actions that, if applied, could make the swimmer more efficient in the water, making the winning difference.
Small corrective actions in spiritual matters can make a big difference for us too. The prophet Zechariah taught a similar principle to a remnant of discouraged Jews struggling, along with their builder Zerubbabel, to rebuild God’s temple after their exile.
But “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” the Lord Almighty told Zerubbabel (Zechariah 4:6).
As Zechariah declared, “Who dares despise the day of small things?” (v. 10).
The exiles had worried that the temple wouldn’t match the one built during King Solomon’s reign.
But just as Ono’s swimmer made the Olympics—winning a medal after surrendering to small corrections—Zerubbabel’s band of builders learned that even a small, right effort made with God’s help can bring victorious joy if our small acts glorify Him.
In Him, small becomes great.
By: Patricia Raybon
INSIGHT
The Old Testament records more than thirty men named Zechariah, a name that means “the Lord remembers.” However, none is more prominent than the prophet Zechariah who wrote the book that bears his name.
Zechariah is the longest of the twelve prophetic books from Hosea to Malachi and is thus classified among the Minor Prophets because it’s relatively shorter than other prophetic books, such Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel (Major Prophets).
Zechariah was a postexilic prophet; his ministry took place after the Babylonian exile (after 538 bc). Information within the book helps to determine the time of his service.
Zechariah 1:1 and 1:7 mention Zechariah receiving a message from God in the second year of Darius. Zechariah 7:1 mentions “the fourth year of King Darius,” who was the Persian king from 522 to 486 bc.
By: Arthur Jackson
APPLICATION
Where have big, splashy actions led you to spiritual frustration? What small changes have enhanced your spiritual life?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“Success grows in inches. Greatness takes time to mature” Light Feather Stories
The transformation of a maggot-like looking caterpillar to a full-fledged beautiful butterfly speaks to the fact that “greatness does not always look like it in the beginning…” pr/Light Feather Stories – adapted
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“…even a small, right effort made with God’s help can bring victorious joy if our small acts glorify Him.”
PRAYER
“Point me to small, good actions, dear God, that make a big difference in me for You.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“IF YOU WANT YOUR DREAM” Donovan
If You Want Your Dream To Be
Build It Slow And Surely
Small Beginnings Greater Ends
Heart Felt Works Go Purely
If You Want To Live Life Free
Take Your Time Go Slowly
Do Few Things But Do Them Well
Simple Joy O Holy
Day By Day, Stone By Stone
Build Your Secrets Slowly
Day By Day You’ll Grow Too
You’ll Know Heavens Glory.
READING THROUGH THE ENTIRE BIBLE THIS YEAR (DAILY)
2 Chronicles 1–3
John 10:1–23
