(Zec) 7:5-6, 9-12, 8:19  CJB “Speak to all the people of the land and to the cohanim. Tell them, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months throughout these seventy years, were you really fasting for me? Was it for me? Rather, when you eat and drink, it’s just to please yourselves, isn’t it? “In the past Adonai-Tzva’ot said, ‘Administer true justice. Let everyone show mercy and compassion to his brother. Don’t oppress widows, orphans, foreigners or poor people. Don’t plot evil against each other.’ But they wouldn’t listen, they stubbornly turned their shoulder away and stopped up their ears, so that they wouldn’t have to hear it. Yes, they made their hearts as hard as a diamond, so that they wouldn’t hear the Torah and the messages that Adonai-Tzva’ot had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. This is why great anger came from Adonai-Tzva’ot;” ““Adonai-Tzva’ot says, ‘The fast days of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months are to become times of joy, gladness and cheer for the house of Y’hudah. Therefore, love truth and peace.’”

God Is Not Fooled by Religion. In Zechariah 7, the people asked about fasting, but God exposed the deeper issue. Their religious practice continued, but their hearts were hard, their ears were closed, and their love for God and neighbor had grown cold.

They fasted.

They mourned.

They kept religious rhythms.

But God asked, “Were you really fasting for me?”

That question still reaches us today.

God Is Not Fooled by Religion Without Relationship

Practicing religion is easier than maintaining a growing, healthy, fruitful relationship with God.

It is like marriage.

Going through the motions may preserve the appearance of a relationship, but it will not produce intimacy, joy, or faithfulness.

A marriage grows when love is pursued.

A relationship with God grows when we seek Him, obey Him, listen to His Word, and love what He loves.

God is not impressed by empty motions.

It is easier to attend church than serve the broken.

It is easier to wear a cross than share the message of the cross.

It is easier to give part of our money than surrender all of our time, talent, treasure, and ambition to the Kingdom of God.

Religious Practice Must Lead to Obedience

Baptism is good.

Confession is good.

Fasting is good.

Giving is good.

Church attendance is good.

But none of these things save us apart from genuine faith in Christ. They are not substitutes for repentance, obedience, love, justice, mercy, and compassion.

Religion is meant to help us worship, obey, and glorify Jesus.

It is a means, not the end.

Jesus is the end.

He is the goal.

He is the treasure.

Zechariah says God’s people were commanded to administer true justice, show mercy and compassion, and refuse to oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor.

But they would not listen.

They turned their shoulders.

They stopped their ears.

They made their hearts as hard as diamond.

That is what dead religion does. It keeps the form while refusing the Lord.

God Is Not Fooled by Religion That Ignores People

God delights in His people loving Him earnestly and loving one another practically.

Real faith shows up in real life.

It shows up in how we treat the poor.

How we speak to our wives.

How we lead our children.

How we do business.

How we serve the weak.

How we forgive enemies.

How we pursue truth and peace.

Zechariah 8:19 ends with this command: “Love truth and peace.”

That is the heart of genuine faith.

Not performance.

Not appearance.

Not religious habit alone.

Truth and peace.

Worship and obedience.

Love for God and mercy toward people.

Religion Is Temporary; Jesus Is Forever

Religious practices are temporary. They help us until the day we see Christ face to face.

One day, we will not need fasting days, church buildings, communion tables, or sermon notes.

We will see Him.

We will live forever under His rule, in His presence, with all His people.

Until then, our religious practices should deepen our love for Him and strengthen our obedience to Him.

They should help us proclaim the gospel, serve the broken, love one another, and seek the reconciliation of the world to Jesus Christ.

God Is Not Fooled by Religion. He wants our hearts.

He wants truth.

He wants mercy.

He wants obedience.

He wants love.

Run Today’s Play

Do not hide behind religious activity today.

• Ask God if your worship has become routine without relationship.
• Identify one person you can serve with mercy and compassion.
• Choose truth over appearance in one area of your life.
• Surrender not just part of your life, but all of it, to Jesus Christ.

Religion can help you follow Jesus, but it can never replace Jesus.

Love truth.

Pursue peace.

Serve people.

Obey Christ.