For today, One Year Bible Online links here. Today is Christmas Eve. Let us remember what it is truly about, the birth of Jesus Christ. Let us strive to not be caught up in the commercialism which is what this season is about for many in our society today.

    The writer gives us four examples of things that are small and weak, yet can make a large impact on their surroundings by wisely using what strengths they have. Let us learn to follow their example.

    When things look bad, let us turn to the Lord for rescue. I will put my trust in the Lord at all times.

    John describes how in his vision he saw seven angels holding the final seven plagues. As he saw the seven angels he saw those who had been victorious over the beast (as in, they had refused to worship it). They were standing before God singing His praises. They sang God’s praises with joy despite the suffering they experienced, or maybe because of it. The passage tells us that the time will come when God will tolerate the sins of mankind no more and punish all of those who will not turn from those sins one final time.

    Zechariah sees a vision of four chariots, each chariot pulled by horses of a different color. We are told that the four chariots are the four spirits who stand before the Lord and who are going out to do His work. It is interesting to me that we are only told where three of the four chariots are going. I was curious as to the meaning of the different colors of the horses, but found little commentary on it that did not try to connect these to the four horsemen in Revelation. I do not think we miss the true meaning of this vision when we attempt to tie it to Revelation. However, I found one which pointed out the four colors indicate that each of these chariots/spirits is a different category of mission.
    Later in this passage, some of the people asked Zechariah if they should continue to maintain their tradition of mourning the destruction of the Temple (since the Temple had since bee rebuilt). Zechariah tells them that when they fasted and mourned, and when they celebrate, they are not doing so for God. Rather they have made these periods of mourning and religious celebration about themselves. We do not need to keep particular fasts, or feasts, on particular Holy Days in order to please God. No matter what we celebrate, or mourn, no matter what rituals and traditions we keep, what pleases God is that we do not oppress those without the power to resist (widows, orphans, foreigners, the poor, etc) and that we do not scheme about how to take advantage of each other. If we treat others with justice and respect, God will be pleased with us.