1In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, Yahweh’s word came to the prophet Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying, 2“Yahweh was very displeased with your fathers. 3Therefore tell them, Yahweh of Armies says: ‘Return to me,’ says Yahweh of Armies, ‘and I will return to you,’ says Yahweh of Armies. 4Don’t you be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Yahweh of Armies says, ‘Return now from your evil ways and from your evil doings;’ but they didn’t hear nor listen to me, says Yahweh. 5Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6But my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, didn’t they overtake your fathers?
“Then they repented and said, ‘Just as Yahweh of Armies determined to do to us, according to our ways and according to our practices, so he has dealt with us.’”
We have all spoken words we want to take back. We’ve made decisions that we wish we could change. Maybe we look back over our life and are filled with regrets.
God promises a second chance! Zechariah ministered to God’s people as they restarted life in the promised land. He warned the people that if they wanted to thrive in the land, they had to be careful not to repeat the mistakes of their ancestors. So Zechariah called God’s people to a life of repentance. He urged them to renew their commitment to God and his Word. When Israel turned back to God, they would enjoy a renewed relationship with Him.
God extends his promise to us as well. We have all failed in the past, but God assures us that repentance brings renewal. When we turn from our sin and look to Christ, God forgives us and gives us a new beginning. We begin to enjoy the presence of God in our life, and we begin to live the way God desires.
Have you discovered the joy that comes from beginning again with God?