GIVEN A CHOICE
Today's reading: Zechariah 1-7

"...I will let you walk in and out of my presence..." Zechariah 3:7 NLT

Allow me to set the scene: The Jewish people had been in exile for many years. During their time away from home, they had had no priesthood in place. Now that they were being called back to their homes, back to their old ways of worship, a prophet stood before them proclaiming God's message: turn from sin and turn to Me.

Along with this pep talk, this re-organization of life, this re-grouping, they were also given a message of what was to come--a new High Priest (verse 1), Jeshua (verse 1), a Branch (verse 8), One who would be given free access to God (verse 7)--a wildly impossible freedom according to the old ways of the law.

All that to say this...

Zechariah proclaimed that Jesus (Jeshua) would be given this freedom, He would have this access to God no one else ever had, He would be sent from heaven to perform tasks only the most elite of God had ever been asked to do, and He would be opening doors to the Most Holy Place to the commoners.

To you and me.

Because of Jesus, you and I can choose to be in God's presence or not.

Who wouldn't you gasp? You and I.

God's presence is piercing. It is illuminating. It is eye-opening. It is wonderful. It is overwhelming. It is heart-breaking. It is awe-inspiring. It is convicting. It is comforting.

And it's our choice to be in it.

What will you and I choose today?