QT 18/12/2025 Thu. Zechariah 7 “When religion replaces repentance” “当宗教取代悔改之时”

QT 18/12/2025 Thu. Zechariah 7 “When religion replaces repentance”
READ http://www.esv.org/zechariah7

In Zechariah 7, the people ask whether they should continue fasting as they had during the exile. God’s response, delivered through the prophet, exposes a deeper issue: their fasting had become ritual without repentance, religion without relationship.

“When you fasted… was it for me that you fasted?” (Zech. 7:5, ESV)

(1) God Looks Beyond Religious Activity

The people’s question sounds sincere, even spiritual. Yet God challenges their motive. Their fasting was real, but it was centred on themselves rather than on God’s glory. The Lord is not impressed by external devotion that lacks inward surrender.

Salvation and true worship are never earned through religious acts. God desires hearts transformed by grace, not merely habits shaped by tradition (cf. Eph. 2:8–9).

Reflection: Do I measure my spiritual health by what I do for God—or by how deeply I love, trust, and obey Him?

(2) True Obedience Is Marked by Justice and Mercy

God reminds them of what He had already spoken through earlier prophets:

“Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another” (Zech. 7:9).

Fasting without obedience is empty. Worship without love for others is hollow. The Lord ties devotion to daily life—how we treat the vulnerable, the powerless, and even our enemies. A heart changed by the gospel will bear fruit. Good works do not save us, but they necessarily flow from saving faith (James 2:17).

Reflection: Is my faith visible in compassion, integrity, and concern for others—or only in church settings?

(3) A Hardened Heart Leads to Separation from God

Zechariah recounts how earlier generations refused to listen. They “made their hearts diamond-hard” (Zech. 7:12). The result was judgment and exile. Ignoring God’s Word led to broken fellowship and unanswered prayer. Persistent rejection of God’s Word hardens the heart. The gospel calls us to respond today—with repentance and faith (Heb. 3:15).

Reflection: Where might I be resisting God’s conviction instead of responding in humble obedience?

(4) The Call Today

Zechariah 7 confronts us with a timeless question: Is my faith authentic or performative? God calls His people—not to abandon spiritual disciplines—but to root them in repentance, obedience, and love.

Practical Application:

(a) Examine your spiritual practices—why do you do them?

(b) Ask God to align your worship with justice and mercy.

(c) Respond quickly when God speaks through His Word.

Prayer

Gracious Father, search my heart and expose any empty religion in me. Forgive me for going through the motions while resisting Your will. Thank You for the gospel that changes hearts, not just behaviour. By Your Spirit, help me to love what You love, obey Your Word, and live out my faith with sincerity and compassion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

QT 18/12/2025 星期四.  撒迦利亚书7 “当宗教取代悔改之时”
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/zec/7/

在撒迦利亚书第七章中，百姓询问是否该继续像被掳时期那样禁食。上帝借先知传达的回应揭示了更深层的问题：他们的禁食已沦为没有悔改的仪式，成为没有关系的宗教。

“你们在五月和七月禁食哀哭，岂是真的为我禁食呢？”（亚7:5，ESV）

(1) 神看重内在而非外在

百姓的提问看似真诚甚至属灵，但神直指其动机。他们的禁食确有其事，却以自我为中心而非荣耀神。主不悦于缺乏内心顺服的外在虔诚。

救恩与真实敬拜绝非靠宗教行为换取。神渴慕的是恩典改变的心，而非传统塑造的习惯（参以弗所书2:8-9）。

反思：我衡量属灵生命是否健康，是看自己为神做了多少事——还是看我对祂的爱、信靠与顺服有多深？

(2) 真顺服以公义与怜悯为标记

神提醒他们先知昔日的宣告：“你们要执法公正，各人要以慈爱和怜悯待自己的兄弟。”（亚7:9）。

不顺服的禁食是空的，无爱心的敬拜是虚的。主将敬虔与日常生活相连——我们如何对待弱者、无权者，甚至仇敌。被福音改变的心必结出果子。善行不能救我们，但它们必然源于救赎的信心（雅各书）。

反思：我的信仰是否体现在怜悯、正直与关怀他人之中——还是仅限于教会场合？

(3) 刚硬的心导致与神隔绝

撒迦利亚记载了先辈们拒绝听从的往事。他们“使自己的心刚硬如金钢石”（撒迦利亚书7:12）。结果招致审判与流放。忽视神的话语导致团契破裂，祷告得不到回应。持续拒绝神的话语会使人心刚硬。福音呼召我们今日就回应——以悔改和信心回应（来3:15）。

反思：我是否在抗拒神的责备，而非以谦卑顺服回应？

(4) 当代的呼召

撒迦利亚书第七章直指永恒命题：我的信仰是真实还是表演？神呼召祂的子民——并非要废弃属灵操练——而是要将这些操练植根于悔改、顺服与爱中。

实践应用：

(a) 审视你的属灵操练——你为何而行？
(b) 求神使你的敬拜与公义怜悯相契合。
(c) 当神借祂的话语说话时，要迅速回应。

祷告

慈爱的天父，求祢察验我心，揭露我一切虚假的敬虔。赦免我曾敷衍了事却抗拒祢旨意。感谢祢赐下改变心志而非仅改变行为的福音。求祢借着圣灵，使我能爱祢所爱，遵行祢话语，以真诚与怜悯活出信仰。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。