Today’s Thanksgiving Day. I hope you are enjoying your time with family, but even more I hope you are really counting your blessings. Not only is it good in God’s sight, but it is good for us. Unthankful people are unhappy and discontent. Do yourself a favor and take the time to be thankful.

There are three things that I want to observe and comment on briefly today in Zechariah. First, in answer to a question about fasting (7:1ff), God gave them an answer they they probably didn’t expect – I’d rather have obedience. Fasting generally implies sorrow and mourning – often about sin. Instead of fasting, concentrate on obedience. Sorrow for sin is always warranted, but sadly our sorrow doesn’t always result in the changes we need. God wanted the changes more than He wanted the external demonstration of fasting.

Second, if you’ll really change your lives, you can also change the days of fasting into feasting and the nations will stream to you (8:14-23) to get what you have. Instead of straight-jacketed slavery, which is how Satan frames obedience to God, God is promising joy and something so good that all men will want a part of it – and it is so!

Third, what a wonderful Messianic prophecy is found in 9:9,10 – the prophecy of the triumphal entry of Jesus just prior to his sacrifice. God’s prophecies always come to pass. No matter how impossible they may seem, that’s only how things look, that’s not really how they are. Bank on it! Death isn’t the end. The resurrection is sure. All things work together for good to those who love God.

See you tomorrow, Lord willing.