Zechariah 9:12 Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

This is one place where I prefer the English to the Japanese, though the Japanese seems quite logical. The Japanese says, “prisoners who have hope,” where the traditional English translation is “prisoners of hope.” To me that’s a striking image. It evokes what Paul said about “take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Philip-pians 3:12) When hope in Christ takes hold of us, it doesn’t let go! From the Christian context, our fortress is Christ Himself, so this becomes a call to come out of whatever has kept us from full fellow-ship with and obedience to Him, and return to our “first love.” (Reve-lation 2:4) When we do that, we discover that all we lost from our waywardness is indeed restored to us multiplied, so this is a joyous call indeed.

Having answered this call myself, it is now my privilege and respon-sibility to extend it to others. This is actually distinct from evangel-ism, which is sharing the Gospel with those who have never heard. It is remarkable how many people have heard and, to at least some degree received, the Gospel, but who have become tangled in “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth” (Matthew 13:22) and not followed through. The devil is almost as happy trapping someone this way as he is in keeping them from the Gospel in the first place. If all who have heard and assented were to walk in the truth they have heard, the world would be a different place indeed! It is my sad experience to share the Gospel and have people be visibly moved, and yet not follow through to the commitment that will break them free from the traps of the devil. I need to act on my recognition that this is a spiritual battle and spend more time in prayer for those who hear the Word I proclaim. When I speak to groups, it is almost always a mixed crowd of those who have never really heard and those who have heard but never acted. I need to pray for both, before and after I’ve spoken to them, so that the Word of the Lord may have its full work in them, for their salvation and God’s glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the many opportunities You give me to share Your truth. Thank you for the two class Christmas parties coming up, and the two more weddings this month. Those are each situations where the majority will be hearing the Gospel for the first time. Thank You for the services here, where most of those present will be Christians, but some hearing by electronic means will not be. I ask for clear guidance for this coming Sunday, because I don’t yet know what You want me to say. I pray that in each case I would be a prepared vessel, a sharp tool, to work Your will in the hearts of my hearers, setting them free for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!