We must be careful that what takes place is not what happened to the people of Zechariah’s day. Although they engaged in religious activities, they were out to please only themselves. A vital element was missing—obedience to God.

Instead of their conducting empty rituals, God wanted them to show their obedience to Him by: (1) administering true justice, (2) showing mercy and compassion, (3) refusing to oppress widows, orphans, and the poor, and (4) not planning evil against others (Zechariah 7:9-10).

We can best honor God by evaluating our own devotion to Him in light of these four commands to God’s people. Our Lord does not want empty, self-centred religious activities from us. He wants the gift of obedience expressed in acts of kindness and helpfulness for those less fortunate than we are. Zechariah 7.

Good morning happy new month. Keep strong, keep pushing, and keep shining.